Gus Poyet is confident the international break has helped his side prepare to visit the Championship leaders.

But he insists a trip to Southampton is no different from taking on some of the in-form sides his men have already played this season.

Poyet has seen Marcos Painter, Vicente and Will Hoskins make good progress since missing the Seagulls’ most recent fixture, against Barnsley 11 days ago, though injury.

Painter is expected to return to defence at St Mary’s and Poyet says he has not ruled out Vicente or Hoskins playing some part.

The Albion manager said: “I suppose having the break helped but it doesn’t change anything in terms of our preparation.

“It doesn’t make our approach to the game any different to preparing to play Palace or Ipswich or West Ham.

“What it has done is give some players more chance to recover.”

Craig Mackail-Smith and Lewis Dunk both return after trips abroad on international duty.

The former played the last half-hour for Scotland in their friendly in Cyprus last Friday and his club boss reckons it was a beneficial experience.

Poyet said: “It’s good because he has played more international football. Training with the national team is probably a little easier than with your club so it’s not a problem for us that he went.”