Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says he's happy at St Mary's ahead of the south coast derby with Brighton.

Saturday marks two years as Southampton boss for Hasenhuttl. Saints were 18th in the Premier League table when he took over and they're sixth before the weekend fixtures.

"I'm very happy where I am, it fits together, and that was the reason that when I got the chance to extend my contract I did it [in June]," he said. "It was absolutely the right decision to come here.

"It was a long way to come to the position we're in now. It was a good start, then a tough start to the second season. Now we're more and more coming in the direction where I want to be as a manager with this team.

"The development now was definitely what I hoped it could be. It takes so long till we can change the mentality and the behaviour completely, and I think it looks now like we have made this last and very important step. Hopefully we don't fall back to old behaviours and mistakes but you never know, the Premier League is always tough."

Saints meet Brighton on Monday and Hasenhuttl was asked if Danny Ings would be available.

He added: "Yesterday (Thursday) was his first time training with the team, he looks good," said the Saints boss.

"We must have a look at how his body reacts to the training, then we can say more."