Former Southampton defender Danny Higginbotham has told Sports Mole that the Saints have been "the team of the season so far".

When manager Mauricio Pochettino and a number of key players such as Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw all departed the South Coast during the summer, Higginbotham, like many others, felt that it could be a difficult campaign ahead for the club.

However, under the guidance of Ronald Koeman, a new-look Southampton have won six of their opening nine Premier League encounters, which has left them second in the table ahead of this afternoon's trip to Hull City.

"I have to hold my hands up because in the summer when Pochettino went and a lot of the players left, I feared the worst for Southampton. That was a big mistake, though, because they have been brilliant," said Higginbotham, who spent three years at the St Mary's Stadium.

"Koeman has been fantastic and the players that he has brought in, like Pelle and Tadic, have been outstanding. They are the team of the season so far. They keep going from strength to strength."

Southampton have conceded just five goals this term, which is four fewer than league leaders Chelsea.