SAINTS defender Jan Bednarek is hoping to return to Staplewood with the bragging rights over manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and teammate Kevin Danso.

Poland have got their Euro 2020 qualifier against Austria this evening, having played Slovenia last Friday.

Such has been their impressive form in the qualifying campaign, Bednarek couldn’t wait to link up with them again.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Bednarek said: “It’s always nice to play for the national team and to meet with your friends to face other national teams.

“It’s always great to feel something new compared to the club games.

“I think the last time we played them [Austria], I had a little conversation with the manager [Hasenhuttl] and I was the happy one because we won this game.

“It’s not going to be an easy game but hopefully I can be happy when I come back here so I can make a little joke on the coach.

“But it’s just football, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”

Saints teammate Danso, who has played for Austria six times, was left out of their squad for this round of qualifiers.

He was instead picked to represent their Under-21s for their matches with Andorra and Albania.

Although Bednarek will no longer get to see how Danso fares against superstar striker Robert Lewandowski, the defender has outlined the importance of tonight’s fixture.

Given their standing at the top of Group G, a win would take them closer to qualifying for next year’s tournament which will be played across 12 European cities for the first time.

“I think this game is really important,” added the Polish defender.

“If we win it then we are almost in the Euro’s next year, so we will try to stick with our winning ways.

“They will try to do everything they can to beat us because we are leading the group, but we are ready.

“We feel confident and we have a strong team who can cause them a lot of problems."