Toby Alderweireld believes he won’t have to wait long for his chance to shine at Saints – but admits he has to perform to stay in the team.

The Belgian international defender has joined on a season long from Atletico Madrid in order to play regularly in the Premier League, but is in a very competitive area of the squad.

Only two of Alderweireld, Jose Fonte, Florin Gardos and Maya Yoshida can start in the centre of defence, while Nathaniel Clyne is starring in the right back role that the 25-year-old can also fill.

There has been plenty of speculation as to how Saints boss Ronald Koeman might now order his central defence, with Alderweireld and Fonte as right footers and Gardos and Yoshida as left footers.

Alderweireld clearly expects first team chances to come his way soon, with his first debut opportunity being this weekend’s game against Newcastle at St Mary’s, but knows he has to be at his best to keep his place in the long term.

“I will get the chance to show, but if I have two weeks in a row when I do not perform well, I will move to the bench,” said Alderweireld while away on international duty.“The football requires more from you physically than in Spain.

“The Premier League is also changing. I have four years in a row in the Champions League and have played in the World Cup, I know what excellence means.”

Alderweireld admitted that he turned down interest from Marseille to make the move to Saints, partly because of Koeman.

“My conversation with Mr Koeman also gave reason to choose Southampton,” he said.

“He knows me and gave me a good feeling.”

Saints have an option to buy Alderweireld for £6.3m at the end of the season, but the defender admitted it is a complicated situation, with Atletico also having an option to take him back.

However, it’s not something he is not worrying about just yet.

“Yes, but there is provision that Atletico can take back if it wants to,” he said when asked about the Saints option.

“For me next year the construction is complicated. I understand. We sit down together after this season with all the parties and see what is the best solution.”

Above all, Alderweireld is excited to be at Saints and to get his chance in the Premier League.

“I hope to accrue games weekly in a top competition like the Premier League.

“Not that I have bad memories of my first year at Atletico, I became more mature and could play in the Champions League, but in the centre of defence, the team was already there from the year before, so it was difficult for me to get into it. Atletico understood that I wanted a year away.”