CLAUDE Puel fears that Saints could suffer at Premier League champions Leicester tomorrow as they try and recover from their exhausting trip to Israel.

Saints made the decision to stay in Israel after their goalless draw with Hapoel Be’eer Sheva on Thursday night, do some light recovery work yesterday morning and then make the journey home.

That consisted of a two-hour coach trip and then a five-hour flight.

In contrast, tomorrow’s opponents Leicester played a home Champions League match on Tuesday and so will be ready for the challenge.

Puel, pictured, confessed: “It’s difficult. You just finish the game and our mind is now for the next game and it arrives very quickly.

“It’s very hard to do a good recovery after this game (Be’er Sheva), after a long travel, a long journey, and we will see this.

“I don’t know what will be our condition but for the mind, for the confidence it was important this result and we don’t take a goal but we have a strong defence with a good spirit and a lot of solidarity between the players.

“Now we go to Leicester for a good result.

“Leicester will be two days more of recovery on the week and this is too big but we go to make something.”

Puel does at least have four fresh players to call upon, with Charlie Austin, Jose Fonte, Steven Davis and Ryan Bertrand having been left at home with the game at the King Power Stadium in mind.

“We have four fresh players but we play with 11 players,” he smiled.

“We will see but I hope they can work well and with a good level for this game and I am sure a good spirit because they can see all their partners do a good defensive game and it was important to keep this result for the future and for the confidence of the team.”

Leicester haven’t hit the form of their title-winning campaign yet this time out, but Puel is expecting a tough game.

“I saw for example the last game in the Premier League against Manchester (United) and it was a good team. Manchester are a difficult team and they score three goals on free kicks and Leicester come back very well,” said Puel.

“They are good physically, they have direct play and it’s very hard to play against this team.

“With five days of recovery between the games and this game in the Premier League and for us just two days, I think it’s important to make a good recovery and to do a good performance on Sunday.”