SAINTS are set to take on West Brom home and away for a place in the Championship playoff final over the next two weeks.

It will be the first time Saints compete in playoffs since 2007 when they were beaten by Derby County on penalties after two legs. 

Manager Russell Martin knows he will be without long-term injury concerns Stuart Armstrong and Gavin Bazunu.

However, Saints have had several players who could now be useful to their campaign out on loan at other clubs this season.

Many of them have already concluded their club campaigns - but can they come back to feature for Saints this month?

The short answer is NO.

FA registration rules prohibit loan players from returning to take part in playoffs since a rule change in 2018. 

Daily Echo: Armel Bella-Kotchap is not eligible to play for Saints in the playoffsArmel Bella-Kotchap is not eligible to play for Saints in the playoffs (Image: Stuart Martin)

In years gone by, loan transfers ended on specific dates, commonly the last day of the regular campaign.

Then, the player's registration was transferred back to their parent club immediately, meaning the player could feature in games.

Loans are now dated until the beginning of the next registration period, meaning those players away on loan are not eligible. 

Regulation 56.1.4 in the EFL Handbook reads: "A Player whose Standard Loan expires (or terminates) at the end of the Season of the Transferee Club but prior to the completion of the League Matches of his Transferor Club (where it is a Member Club) will not be eligible to play in any remaining League Matches for the Transferor Club in that Season;

"Examples where this may apply are (a) differential season ends for different divisions or (b) a player finishing a loan and his ‘parent club’ has qualified for the play-off competitions."

Out on loan for Saints are players such as Charly Alcaraz (Juventus), Armel Bella-Kotchap (PSV), Romain Perraud (Nice) and Mat Lis (Goztepe).

Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Duje Caleta-Car (Lyon) and Lyanco (Al-Gharafa) are also on temporary deals away from the club this season. 

Players who are at Saints on loan, such as Joe Rothwell, Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and more, are eligible to take part in playoffs.