Southampton boss Mark Hughes admits he's learning a lot about his players as they struggle to escape the drop.

Hughes believes he has worked out which players are unlikely to step up and deliver with backs firmly up against the wall.

He said: “I am starting to clearly learn what leaders and what kind of leadership group I have in the club.

“I have good characters and strong characters and maybe the starting line-up needs more of those.

“Clearly I am getting to understand the guys who are going to help us and those who are not going to put their bodies on the line, and that's good from my point of view."

He added: “It's a case of understanding the group.

“I'm more comfortable now knowing the guys that I can trust, the ones I can use and that simplifies my thinking in terms of selection.

“It's a case of the guys that are with us and pushing to change this around, they are the ones who can get us out of this situation."