Lallana Right to Stay at Saints

Adam Lallana feels his decision to stick with Southampton has been justified by the club's surge to the top of the Championship this season.

The midfielder reportedly snubbed offers from the Premier League in favour of penning a new five-year deal at St Mary's last January, with Fulham and Wolves thought to have been chasing him.

The Saints' push for back-to-back promotions is firmly on course this season after climbing out of League One last term, and 23-year-old Lallana believes his decision to stay has been proved the right one.

He told the Daily Mirror: "When I signed the contract I did not see it as a gamble even though we were in League One at the time.

"It was justified because we were promoted last season and a year later here we are sat top of the Championship with a great chance of going into the Premier League.

"I have been here for a long time and I could always see the potential. I knew this was a club that was going places.

"We have a top class manager and a squad brimming with talent.

"It is every young player's dream to play in the Premier League - but I always believed I could get there with Southampton and hopefully that dream will come to fruition."