Mauricio Pellegrino says he has to respect Gareth Southgate’s decision to axe Fraser Forster from the latest England squad.

The big stopper, who has come under fire for some of his performances for Saints, has been left out for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil, leaving Ryan Bertrand as the only St Mary’s man to get the nod.

Pellegrino, who has backed Forster as his number one keeper, said: “I have to respect the opinion of the manager.

“He knows better than me how they are the rest of the competition in the squad.

“Fraser has got huge competition in this place and in football life you go up and down all the time and we have to respect that.”

Pellegrino is sure to lose a host of stars to international duty after this weekend’s game against Burnley, but admitted he cannot be too upset when the calls don’t materialise.

“I think we have got a good squad,” he reckoned.

“Some of them have been sharing the national team in the past and now Ryan will be there.

“For me obviously it is a double feeling because when most of them are in the national team it is really good for them and really bad for me.

“That means 50 or 60 per cent of the squad is abroad and I am waiting for them and expecting everybody to come back healthy and be ready for the club.

“In this way most of my players in the future I think now have British players, English players, in the national team.”

Mario Lemina will not be on international duty as he recovers from the ankle injury which also rules him out of the game against Burnley at St Mary’s at the weekend.

Charlie Austin is fit to return to the squad.