SAINTS defender Chris Baird has spoken of his "frustration" at not being more involved in the first team squad this season.

The 22-year-old might have thought he had made the big breakthrough after his fine appearance in the FA Cup Final against Arsenal.

But Baird only started one league match this season under former boss Gordon Strachan, ironically against Arsenal again at St Mary's in December.

He went on loan to Walsall back in the autumn and last week joined another struggling Second Division club, Watford, on a month's loan.

"I was not getting that many games at Southampton," said Baird. "I was not happy and frustrated at not playing.

"I don't know if I'll stay at Watford or not - that's up to Mr Sturrock."

The Northern Ireland international made his Hornets debut at right-back in last week's 4-1 Sky-televised thrashing at Ipswich.

He received a dead leg after only 15 minutes but carried on and was generally accepted to have been Watford's best defender - certainly in terms of an attacking prowess.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell remains a keen admirer of Baird, above, and had an offer accepted earlier this year only for the player to turn down the chance of a move to the Latics.

Wigan, though, are keeping an eye on Baird's situation and get the ideal chance to monitor him when they visit Vicarage Road this weekend.

Saints would want a fee for Baird, but Watford have little money available.

Baird is one of only four players who started the friendly against Norway last month included in Northern Ireland's 18-man squad for the friendly in Estonia next Wednesday.

SAINTS winger Neil McCann has been recalled to the Scotland squad - despite his below-par club performances in the past fortnight.

McCann has been recalled for next week's friendly with Romania by under-pressure boss Berti Vogts after missing his country's 4-0 friendly loss in Cardiff last month. McCann played in the first four internationals of this season, scoring against the Faroes and Germany.

He was also involved in both legs of the Euro 2004 play-off, which saw his country thrashed 6-1 on aggregate by Holland. McCann has won 18 caps and scored three goals, but he has yet to find the net for Saints in nine starts plus 10 as a sub since his £1.5m move from Rangers last summer.