The 26-year-old Portuguese defender, who missed the 2-0 home loss to Brentford at the weekend through suspension, is anxious to help Saints get their promotion bid back on track when he returns to the side against Walsall on Saturday.
Fonte, linked with a move to Newcastle on Wednesday morning, told the club's official website: "I believe we can go up this year and go straight through into the Premier League the following season. Southampton is a big club, that has to be our aim.
"This league is much like the Championship because there are 12 teams or more capable of challenging for promotion, so I know how tough it is going to be, but now we have to go out there and do it."
Source: PA
Source: PA