Champions League experience helping Saints' Toby Alderweireld adapt to English football

The Belgian, who played in last season's Champions League final for Atletico Madrid, has helped make Saints watertight since coming on loan from Spain last month.

Saints have the best defence in all four divisions, having conceded just five league goals and keeping as many clean sheets in their opening nine games while moving up to second - their highest position in 30 years.

They have conceded just two goals, had four clean sheets and won five in six since the 25-year-old defender's arrival.

Their latest victory - a 1-0 win over Stoke on Saturday - highlighted the importance of Saints' powerful backline a week after their frontline went on an eight-goal rampage against Sunderland.

Alderweireld was dominant alongside skipper Jose Fonte against the physical and aerial presence Stoke possessed in the shape of 6ft 7in Peter Crouch.

Alderweireld said: "It was difficult because there were a lot of expectations after Sunderland but we won it in a different way. Defensively we gave them nothing. Another win and clean sheet gives us a lot of confidence.

"Stoke had a lot of quality on the high balls. I'd never come up against an opponent like Crouch but we defended smart against him. If you want to attack the ball you're going to lose against him because he's too big. So you try to do it another way. It worked. They never really threatened.

"There's good relationship between Jose and myself. We talk, have experience. But the credit is to the whole team."