Dani Osvaldo’s future at Saints has been plunged into uncertainty, after the club’s record signing was suspended for allegedly head-butting José Fonte in training.

The centre back suffered facial injuries during Wednesday’s incident, with some blood understood to have been drawn.

The damage is not serious, though, and the defender was at the club’s Staplewood base, as normal, for training today.

Saints decided to take the strongest course of immediate action available to them by suspending Osvaldo, who they accused of a “breach of conduct”, for two weeks.

A fine also looks likely for the Italian international, with two weeks’ wages – believed to be around the £120,000 mark – the most severe punishment the club could dish out in that regard.

While Osvaldo is the subject of a disciplinary process, Saints see no reason to take, or even consider, any action against Fonte.