Southampton centre-back Wayne Thomas feels George Burley now has real strength in depth, especially when it comes to Saints' defence.Thomas has been working hard to get back into the side after suffering an Achilles injury in the clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

He told the club's official website: "We have gone from having very few centre halves to having Darren Powell and myself back."

Thomas has now made it back into George Burley's first team but as a right-back rather than his preferred central position. But he knows he cannot take his place in the side for granted.

He added: "You need to earn the right to get a shirt in the side in your rightful position and when you do get it, the hardest thing is keeping it."

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