Lee Barnard says he aims to deliver much more in a Saints shirt ahead of his first clash against his former side on Saturday.
The striker departed Southend United in January having notched 17 goals for the season, and despite adding a further nine strikes to his name at St. Mary's, he believes that he can offer an even higher return if he gets a run of games.
"I just feel that there's more to come from me," he explained. "I haven't been here that long, but I feel that my understanding of the players will get better and better so I'm looking forward to next season and building on it.
"It's tough coming into a team where everyone already knows each other and you've got to train to break your way into it, so at the start it was quite difficult. But I think I've settled in well with a good bunch of lads who've made me feel really welcome, and when I've had a run in the team I've scored goals as well which has helped.
"I've settled here really, really quickly, it's a lovely place to live. The facilities here are great and it's all set up to go back into the Championship and then the Premier League, so it's not been too difficult to come down here find a place to live and settle down."
Lee revealed that he hasn't trained fully ahead of this weekend's match against his old employers, but is hoping to be ready in time to face the Shrimpers.
"It's going to be strange coming up against my former team, but I'm looking forward to it. I've got a bit of an injury at the moment, but I'm hoping to train before the game and I'm desperate to play in this one.
"I've got a lot of friends there, so I speak to a lot of the boys. I look out for their results and I want them to do well, but it's unfortunate that they've gone down. It's disappointing because they're a good club and I had two good years there, everyone was nice to me and I've got nothing but good things to say about Southend. It's disappointing that they've gone down, but I wish them all the best in the future.
"I'm just hoping to be fit, but if I score then that's fantastic. If I'm honest, out of respect I don't think that I would celebrate because I had some good times there. I love scoring for Southampton and I want to score as many as I can here, but if I do score on Saturday then it will be a calm celebration I think."
After this game, Barnard says that he and the rest of the lads will enjoy a well earned rest for the summer, but will be champing at the bit to return sharper than ever for the 2010/11campaign.
"It's been a long season. Mine has been broken up by playing for two clubs so maybe mine has gone quicker than for the lads that have been here all year, but it has been a good, long season which has now come to an end.
"We were desperate to get into the play-offs and to miss out has not been easy, but we've got such a good squad here and a feeling that we can do it next season. There's an anticipation, but we need a break, and I'm sure we'll come back itching to go.
"I can't wait. I'm at a great club and really happy to be here, we shouldn't be in League One with the greatest respect to the division, but I'm looking forward to a full season here next year."
