Everton captain Phil Neville respects Southampton's Premier League credentials

Everton captain Phil Neville has owned up to a soft spot for Southampton as the two sides prepare to do battle in the Premier League.

Saints visit Goodison Park for the first time in seven years tomorrow, with Neville admitting to fond memories of visits to the Dell early in his career.

Neville told the Toffees' official website: "Forget the last seven years, they are a Premier League club. Everything about them is Premier League.

"When I first broke into the first team at Manchester United, Southampton were a stable league side and they always produced good players, good young players, and it was always a difficult place to go.

"They've got a great tradition and history of producing young players, playing good football and I think they will probably see it that they're back where they belong."

Everton have an outside chance of finishing the weekend top of the table with a victory against Saints on Saturday.