Southampton striker Charlie Austin hoping to add to Newcastle misery
Former Newcastle target Charlie Austin insists Southampton will show Rafael Benitez's relegation-threatened Tynesiders no mercy in Saturday's Premier League tussle at St Mary's.
Austin spurned Newcastle's advances to join Southampton from QPR in January, finally rejecting long-term overtures from the north east.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss Benitez has since been drafted in for a last-ditch firefighting mission - but lose on the south coast this weekend and Newcastle would be on the brink of relegation.
Saints striker Austin knows all too well the pain of relegation after suffering the fate with QPR last term, but admitted he is far more concerned with helping Ronald Koeman's side chase Europa League qualification.
"Something's obviously not gone right there but we know they'll be fighting for their lives on Saturday," Austin told Southampton's official club website.
"It's so important for them that they get those three points but on the other hand it's so important for us too.
"So it's nice that we're still playing for something, still pushing, there's a big six games to go for us and we just concentrate on us and hopefully the result can take care of itself.
"Hopefully we can keep our home form going and get the three points."
Southampton boss Koeman believes his side will not need to better last year's final Premier League tally of 60 points to qualify for the Europa League.
The Dutch manager has challenged Saints to register more than three wins from their remaining six matches to secure European football, however.
Austin agrees with Koeman's assessment of that Europa League battle, and now hopes he can hit top form after shaking off a run of minor injuries to boost that cause.
"It's been frustrating just because of little niggly injuries, but hopefully I've shaken them off now, and can stay fit now until the end of the season," said Austin.
"My strength's up now and I just need to perform for the team between now and the end of the season.
"There are six games to go, we want to get into the Europa League places and that battle starts this weekend.
"We need to get as many points as we can, and hopefully we can get into the Europa League.
"It was a great second-half display against Liverpool and hopefully that will give us confidence at home again this weekend."
Shane Long will return from knee trouble for the clash but midfielder Steven Davis will miss out with an ankle issue.
Meanwhile, Benitez has brushed off speculation linking him with the Spain job as he plots a long-term future at Newcastle.
The 55-year-old has been tipped as a potential replacement for current national boss Vicente del Bosque when he stands down after Euro 2016 but he says he is looking no further ahead than the fight to maintain the Magpies' top-flight status and his continued presence in his current post.
Asked about the forthcoming vacancy, Benitez, who has a break clause in his contract at St James' Park should the worst happen, said: "I am the Newcastle manager and I want to be the Newcastle manager next year. I am really pleased here.
"Always it is positive when people talk about you. Obviously with Spain, it is one of the (top) teams in the world now, but I am just concentrating and I would like to stay here for a while."
The Magpies have won only once in 22 league visits to Southampton, but Benitez is confident the squad he inherited from Steve McClaren has the quality to get itself out of trouble - if it can overcome a mental block.
He said: "The team, I can guarantee, is giving everything in every training session and we have to stop the mental block that they have. They are a little bit blocked and we need to change this.
"How? Winning would be perfect. I have said before, there are 21 points still to play for, so we have to concentrate on the next game, don't see the other games - we can't have any influence on the others - so just concentrate on getting three points in this one.
"If we can, it will be easier for me, the speech will be easier. If we cannot, still we have to keep on fighting until the end.
"That is very clear for me and for every player, and that is the message for the fans: we will continue fighting, we will not give up until the last minute."
Defenders Fabricio Coloccini (calf) and Paul Dummett (hamstring) have returned to training but are short of match fitness.
Karl Darlow is set to continue in goal with Tim Krul and Rob Elliot both out for the season with knee ligament injuries.
Source: PAR
