Mauricio Pochettino insists he will not be panicked into the transfer market after Saints lost at home to Chelsea.

The 3-0 defeat made it just one win in the last nine for Pochettino’s men, who have endured a tough run of fixtures and injuries.

However, the Saints boss is far more focussed on getting players back fit than delving into the transfer market after the January window opened for business.

“Just because we have lost to Chelsea it doesn’t make me interested in the transfer market,” said Pochettino.

“The most important thing right now is to recover the players that are injured for us.”

When asked if this window was more about keeping players than signing them he added: “I completely agree with what you’re saying. It’s very important to keep our best players but also to recover our players that have been injured for a while.

“To get everybody fit and playing as a unit is going to reinforce the squad a lot.”

Pochettino denied any interest in signing centre half Davide Astori from Cagliari and also laughed off reports in a national newspaper that West Ham were set to sign Rickie Lambert for £8m.

Lambert started the Chelsea game on the bench for Saints with Gaston Ramirez winning a recall after his goal at Everton and Jay Rodriguez leading the line.

“I know nothing about the possible signing of Rickie Lambert,” insisted the Saints manager.

“It’s clear that it’s January and the period when there’s a lot of rumours coming out as the transfer window is opening.

“It’s only going to be normal that these rumours come out.”

Luke Shaw was withdrawn at half time with a minor knock which Saints are optimistic will not be too serious and the club now have a week and half until they play in the league again.

That will be against West Brom at St Mary’s once an FA Cup third round tie with Burnley is out of the way.

For Saints it will be a relief not to have to face one of the Premier League’s big guns.

“It’s clear that we have been playing against the top sides, we have been suffering against them because they are obviously quality opposition,” said Pochettino.

“Chelsea are one of the favourites to win the league along with Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, even Manchester United I wouldn’t count out of the running.

“It’s been quite tough.”