Ronald Koeman tells Southampton strikers to start scoring

Ronald Koeman is demanding more from Southampton's forward players ahead of a final push for European football.

A win at Stoke on Saturday would take Saints above their hosts and Liverpool into seventh place with eight Premier League games to play.

Only Newcastle have scored fewer than Southampton's 11 league goals on the road this season, a statistic that has the manager worried.

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"I'm a little concerned about our scoring, not only about our away scoring but also at home," said Koeman.

"We need to improve, we need the best out of our quality players in front. We have that quality, but it's time to show it because that makes the difference and that will be very important until the end of the season.

"We don't really put targets, but we have our ambition to get into Europe and we know it's difficult because it's really tough with the rest of the teams to compete for a chance.

"It's all about keeping your level and spirit and having a good run of results."

Koeman has Shane Long fit for the trip to the Britannia and has welcomed the return of the Republic of Ireland striker, who scored two goals in three games before missing Saturday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland.

"Shane Long is coming back to the team," Koeman said. "Shane is having a great period in the team, he's very dangerous, he's a fast striker, he has really the total confidence what you need as a striker at the moment and he is an important player for us at the moment."

Charlie Austin is still out with a hamstring injury but remains on course to return after the international break.