Ralph Hasenhuttl set challenges for his players to try and keep them focussed during their enforced three-week break.

Hasenhuttl refused to reveal what the winners of the tasks received – or what forfeits befell the losers – but thinks the motivational tactics kept things lively at Staplewood during a tricky hiatus.

“It’s right. It’s a long break,” he smiled.

“It was good that we had a win before this long break and we knew that this last eight games would be the most important ones this year.

“We have had time to prepare for these weeks and we did and players are coming back. A few injuries we have but we have a big crowd so it won’t be easy for me to pick the right 11.

“Maybe at the weekend we have one or two positions who are not happy they don’t play but that is normal at this point of the year. The most important thing is we act as a team and we will do.”

Saints were missing a set of international players for two weeks of their break, but Hasenhuttl still had a decent core of his squad around.

“We try to create challenge,” he explained.

“We normally are not doing this if we prepare for a game at the weekend because that is the challenge.

“We try to give them a chance to win something during the week.”

When asked what the prizes were he would only reveal: “For the losing team it was not so nice. For the winning team it was nice.

“We try to create something for the training.

“We had fun.”