Glenn Hoddle has taken a no-lose gamble by snapping up Chelsea midfielder Paul Hughes on a short-term contract.

Saints beat yesterday's transfer deadline to sign the 23-year-old on extended trial until the end of the season.

Hughes had already indicated that he would leave Stamford Bridge on a Bosman free so Gianluca Vialli has agreed to release him early.

Hoddle knows the youngster from when he was boss of Chelsea and believes he could prove to be a bargain. He did not expect the Blues to let Hughes leave now but moved swiftly following yesterday's change of heart.

He said: "It is not a risk because he is not costing us anything. This gives us a chance to have a good look at him and then we will make a final decision at the end of the season.

"We don't have a lot of money so this is the sort of thing we need to do to see if we can strengthen without spending a lot.

"Paul showed a lot of promise when I had him as a youth-team player at Chelsea and he has had some first-team experience there. But he has struggled with injury over the last ten months and he has not had enough of an opportunity there.

"They have now terminated his contract so we have taken it over until the end of the season. He has some catching up to do in terms of fitness but he is now registered to us and we can play him if we want."

Hughes, who played an hour for the reserves against Pompey in midweek, is unlikely to figure in tomorrow's Premiership game away to the club he has just left.

It will be a first return to Stamford Bridge for Hoddle since he quit as Chelsea boss to take over as coach of England.

He said: "I had some good times at the Bridge and I am looking forward to going back. I still have a lot of friends there and I wish them well, particularly in the Champions League.

"They will be very disappointed with their performance against Lazio in midweek and to have lost their unbeaten home record in Europe.

"But that will count for nothing against us and the bonus they have is that they don't have to play the same side tomorrow. They have enough depth to change things around.

"They have talented players coming from everywhere and it will be a good challenge for our lads and, if we can nick a point or even a win, it will be a great boost for us."

l Tickets for the game against Chelsea will remain on general sale at The Dell until 10.30 tomorrow morning.

Cost is £25 with no concessions and Saints are hoping fans will rally round to justify their decision to ask for an extra allocation.

The initial batch of 1,400 sold out so quickly that they asked for more but they will have to pay for them regardless of whether they sell them.

They currently have around 400 remaining. There will be none on sale at Stamford Bridge.

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