When Saints return from the International break they could record a milestone in the Club's 129 year history when they face Sunderland at St Mary's

The side that started the game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday had as many full International players in it than at any time in the Club's history , more than even the star studded sides of the early 80's in fact.

Of the side that ran out at White Hart Lane only three had never won a full cap for their country, Graziano Pelle, Nathaniel Clyne and Jose Fonte, however that could change in the next week with all included in their countries full squads for the latest round of Euro 2016 qualifying games.

If all three were to get a full cap for their country then the prospect that for the first time in the Club's history, we will put out a side of full international players.

This emphasizes just how strong a squad Saints have at present, especially when you consider that on the bench at Spurs where another 3 full international players in Mayuka, Shane Long and Florin Gardos plus we also have the injured Jay Rodriguez and Yoshida and Artur Boruc and Gaston Ramirez out on loan.

In fact just about the only two regulars in the squad who are not full Internationals are Jack Cork and James Ward Prowse and I would not bet against either of them earning a full cap for England at some time in the future.

Just how far Saints have come since returning to the Premier League can be measured by the list of full internationals on the books, currently there are 14 and that could be boosted by 3 very soon.

When we embarked on the first game back in the Premier League it was a very different story, of the players on duty that day only two had won full caps for their country although the squad did also include Tadanari Lee.

Shortly after this game we did start to sign some full International players although it would really be the start of last season and England caps for Lambert, Rodriguez and Lallana that the squad started to take on the look of a side packed with good International talent.

With all three ever present in the Saints side this season they look likely to start against Sunderland assuming that they are injury free, so if all are capped then the proposition is on that for the first time in their history Saints will field a complete side of full internationals.

However with Ronald Koeman a wily tactician and concentrating on putting out a side to beat the Mackems, the chance of this record being stopped in its tracks is viable with the inclusion of Jack Cork perhaps putting the khybosh on it.

However I would expect that only to be a delay in this milestone and assuming all three are capped it wont be long before we Saints fans can proudly boast of our side of full international players.

Photo: Action Images

Whatsforpud added 12:54 - Oct 8 In the days when each to flight club had one or two 'foreigners', they would typically have 3 or 4 internationals. Now, most clubs are international - some of them coming from 'lesser' footballing countries. Inevitably you are going to have more internationals, although I agree it would be quite a landmark if Saints started with 11 next match. On this subject, I remember the Leeds United team of the 70s, comprising 11 internationals, all from the British Isles countries.

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