Southampton boss Mark Hughes insists they won't sacrifice the FA Cup in their relegation battle.

Hughes, named as summer appointment Mauricio Pellegrino's successor late on Wednesday night, knows his big priority is keeping fourth-bottom Southampton up and admits “we have to hit the ground running in games and training."

The Welshman, who took training for the first time on Thursday, said: “It is not a case of just parking the cup competition, because we feel the priority needs to be the Premier League.

“Cup runs enable you to increase your form in Premier League games as well so I don't see it as an irritant the fact we are in the latter stages of the FA Cup, the greatest cup competition in world football."

Hughes, who won the competition three times with Manchester United and again when at Chelsea, added: “It was good for me in my career as a player and something I have a real feeling towards.

“We want to do well and the consequences of doing well in the FA cup will help our form in the league."