Claude Puel insists he is not under pressure to play Martin Caceres, despite Saints forking out to bring him in for the rest of the season.

Saints failed to land a new centre half in the January window and so moved for the former Juventus and Barcelona man, who was a free agent.

Reports in Italy have suggested that Caceres will pocket around £850,000 for his brief stay at St Mary’s.

However, with only 13 Premier League matches now remaining, and the centre half still trying to get up to full fitness having not played for more than a year, he looks unlikely to play a particularly significant role in the season.

Indeed, Puel has suggested that rather than start him against Watford tomorrow he may instead give him game time for the under-23s on Monday night.

“He improves step by step every training session. I hope he continues this work,” said Puel.

“I don't know if he can start the next game, or perhaps to see him also with the opportunity to play with the under-23s against Chelsea on Monday.

“It's perhaps a good opportunity to make a good official game against the good young players of Chelsea and see him in a good situation.”

Puel, though, insists there is no pressure on him from the Saints hierarchy to play Caceres to justify the amount they are paying him.

“For me it's important just to see good things for the team,” said the Saints boss.

“It's not pressure for me, no obligation with any player.

“It's important to see always the good possibilities, the good balance in the team, the work of any player in training, and to do the good solution for the team.

“For me a young player, an experienced player, all the players are important.

“I try to put in the pitch the best players in the team.”

Puel is facing a tough challenge to keep his squad motivated and happy during a run of three games in 48 days.

Having had all the squad so used to playing during the fixture laden first half of the campaign which saw such rotation, there are now players who are unlikely to play for a period of months.

That will inevitably cause some issues, and Puel admitted: “It's difficult and I can understand some frustrations about some players. This is normal, we cannot make another thing.

“But for example when we go to play in April we need all the squad because we'll have to play every three days, against a team with just one game a week.

“It will be important to keep all the players with good confidence and spirit until the end of the season.”