Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has claimed that the former Championship side should be aiming for top honours during their first season back in the top flight.

The Saints are preparing for an assault on the Premier League after gaining promotion last season, and the Liverpool-born boss believes that the southern club can't be satisfied with simply surviving.

"What we've got to do is make sure we're ambitious in the Premier League and not just go there and think 'oh, well if we can just get enough points to stay up then that will be successful'," said Adkins. "We've got to drive on, strive to be the best and Europe is obviously the goal."

Southampton will face their first test against league champions Manchester City on the opening day of the season on August 18.