Ralph Hasenhuttl calls for fans to keep coming to games to help his Southampton side beat the drop... but Saints boss remains wary of the 'big fear' around the Omicron variant and understands the need to 'minimise risk'

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has called for fans to continue coming to matches despite the fear of the Omicron COVID-19 variant being 'big.'

Southampton travel to London on Sunday to face West Ham United, and Saints boss Hasenhuttl has said that while he wants fans to continue attending games, he is wary of the larger issue at hand.

'Football with fans is definitely something different,' Hasenhuttl said. 'It is much more enjoyable.

'It's a very important part of the English culture and you need to have it, but you have to balance the risk with the reward you get.