RONALD Koeman is set to welcome the first of his players back for training today, as preparations for the new season get underway.

The initial intake of Saints stars are due at Staplewood this morning for the start of their summer work, just 36 days after the last campaign ended.

Some fitness tests have already been conducted in the sports science laboratories at Solent University, but this marks the first official day of pre-season for the club.

There will only be a limited number of players due back in, however.

Those who took part in international matches after the Premier League season concluded will be given an extra week of rest before returning.

Saints' summer is particularly truncated this year, after they earned a place in the Europa League for the coming campaign.

They will enter at the third qualifying round stage, meaning that their first competitive match will take place on Thursday, July 30 - ten days before their opening Premier League game.

Their first friendly of the summer is only nine days from now.

That will take place on their trip to Austria, as they face RasenBallsport Leipzig, in Bischofshofen, on Wednesday, July 8 (6pm UK time).

That is followed by the Audi quattro Cup, at the Red Bull Arena, in Salzburg, on Saturday, July 11.

As well as Saints, the mini tournament - where matches will be 45 minutes each - features Valencia, Werder Bremen and hosts Red Bull Salzburg.

Saints will play Valencia in the first semi-final (3pm UK), which will be followed either by a third/fourth place match (5.10pm UK) or the final (6.15pm UK) against Bremen or Salzburg.

Koeman's men will then return home for a short time, before travelling to Holland.

There, they will face Groningen, at the Euroborg stadium, on Saturday, July 18 (1.30pm UK).

That match is followed by a contest against Dutch minnows KVV Quick 1920, at Sportpark Vondersweijde, in Oldenzaal, on Tuesday, July 21 (6pm UK).

The visit to the Netherlands will conclude with a glamour tie against Koeman's old club, Feyenoord, at their De Kuip stadium, on Thursday, July 23 (7pm UK).

Saints then return home to prepare for their opening Europa League match.

That will be followed by a home friendly against Espanyol, on Sunday, August 2 (3pm), before the second leg of their Europa League qualifier, on Thursday, August 6.

Saints will then start the Premier League season with a trip to Newcastle.

That match is currently scheduled for Saturday, August 8, but is set to be switched to the Sunday, due to Saints' European commitments.