Claude Puel will finally get to meet some of Saints’ international stars as the build-up to the big Premier League kick-off really goes up a gear.

Shane Long, Steven Davis, Fraser Forster and Ryan Bertrand will all report back to Staplewood at the start of next week ready to get going.

The four players were allowed to miss the trip to the USA due to their involvement at Euro 2016 to allow them some time to recuperate and have a holiday.

The only players still missing will be Jose Fonte and Cedric Soares.

They have been given an extended leave of absence due to playing all the way up to and including the final of the tournament, which Portugal won just a week ago.

Puel will also be able to get Maya Yoshida involved properly in pre-season, with the centre half having been forced to miss travelling across the Atlantic with the rest of the squad due to a visa issue.

After enjoying their training camp in Baltimore, and a low key behind closed doors friendly, the serious business really starts to get underway this week.

Once they have recovered from the trip back, Saints will spend a few days training at Staplewood before they head to Holland on Friday.

Once they have landed they will be quickly into action, with a game against PEC Zwolle the following day.

That match is expected to be used very much as a fitness game, with most players expected to play no more than 45 minutes each as they start to ease back into things.

Puel will then spend another three days on the training pitch with his men before Saints face FC Twente, the former club of Dusan Tadic.

That match takes places at the Q20 Stadium on Wednesday, July 27.

Then they have a further two days of training before rounding off the trip with a second game against FC Groningen in as many years on Saturday, July 30.

The tour was organised by Ronald Koeman before his departure from St Mary’s, with FC Groningen a club synonymous with the Koeman family.

With Puel coming in shortly before pre-season was due to get underway, and with last season’s similar preparations having led to an outstanding campaign, Saints decided to stick with it.

The job in hand for Puel now he has most of his star names available is to instil his ideas and methods, and also to assess what further signings he might like to make.

He has already targeted a right back, and potentially another attacking player to play a deeper role behind a main striker.

Saints start their Premier League campaign against Watford at St Mary’s on Saturday, August 13.