SAINTS head coach Jan Poortvliet plans to hold vital talks with Jhon Viafara today to discuss the player's future at the club.
Viafara made his first appearance of pre-season in the 3-2 win at Weymouth last night.
But the Colombian was hauled off after just 28 minutes with Poortvliet saying he was disappointed with his start to the game, in which he conceded a ninth minute penalty, and the fact he reacted to a decision going against him by kicking the ball into the crowd.
The Dutchman said Viafara has already told him that he is currently unsettled at St Mary's due to family reasons. He admitted that could have played a part in the 29-year-old's performance against the Blue Square Conference outfit.
Explaining the decision to substitute Viafara, Poortvliet said: "I was disappointed. Very disappointed.
"Jhon was not really concentrated and he was not involved with the game.
"I saw the warm up and I was not happy by the warm up. I took him off because he made some big mistakes - he gave the penalty away - but he also made a big mistake when he lost concentration and he put the ball away (into the crowd) like you don't have to do in a friendly game.
"It was not honest to do that."
Poortvliet added: "I spoke to him last Saturday and a big problem is he is missing his family and he is having a sad time here.
"That can be a problem. Your family is not here and you feel you are alone. That can be a problem.
"But in football we need players who are involved with what we want to do."
Full story: See today's Daily Echo.
