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Southampton defender Maya Yoshida urges Claude Puel's men to make swift Europa League progress

Maya Yoshida has called on his Southampton team-mates to do everything to ensure they can progress to the Europa League knockout stages as quickly as possible.

Southampton, who are second in Group K on seven points, travel to leaders Sparta Prague on Thursday, while third-placed Hapoel Be'er Sheva of Israel play struggling Italian side Inter Milan in the fifth round of fixtures.

Hapoel need to win to keep their hopes of qualifying alive, while the Saints are guaranteed to progress if they beat Sparta and the Israeli side lose or draw.

Southampton defenderu00a0Maya Yoshida pictured in Europa League action against Inter Milanu00a0
Southampton defender Maya Yoshida pictured in Europa League action against Inter Milan
The centre back celebrates with Virgil van Dijk following the victory over the Italian giants
The centre back celebrates with Virgil van Dijk following the victory over the Italian giants

'We are almost through to the next round but these winning points are really important for us; we have to make sure we get them,' Japanese international Yoshida told the club's website.