Saints striker Tadanari Lee has returned to Japan on loan for the remainder of the season.

Lee has yet to make single Premier League appearance for the club and the return from the African Cup of Nations of Emmanuel Mayuka means chances will be strictly limited with Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez also competing for the striking berth.

As a result Mauricio Pochettino has allowed him to join former club FC Tokyo until June.

The 27-year-old joined Saints in 2012 and has made 12 appearances since.

Nine of those came last season, with only three cup appearances in this campaign.

Lee scored two goals in that time, one against Derby last season and one against Stevenage in the Capital One Cup.