SOFIANE Boufal has had a topsy-turvy week – and doubts remain over his future at St Mary’s.

The Saints attacker won the Premier League’s Goal of the Season on Saturday, scooping the award for his stunning solo winning strike in a 1-0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion in October.

Boufal danced from inside his own half, jinking past four players before slotting the ball home into the bottom right of the net to seal the win five minutes from time.

After winning the accolade, the Moroccan wrote on social media: “It’s a [sic] honor [sic] to be the best goal of the season Premier League #proud.

“Thanks for all people (who) support me even in a difficult situation #nevergiveup #iwillcomebackstrongerthanever.”

Certainly, despite the positivity of winning Goal of the Season, Boufal is not having the best of times at the moment.

The 24-year-old missed out on a place in the Morocco World Cup squad on Friday and so, for now, will not be fulfilling his dream of playing at the tournament.

He told the Echo in December: “For going to Russia I need a very good season with Southampton, so now I’m focused about my club.

“But it’s a dream to play in a World Cup. We have very difficult games, a difficult group, against some big teams, but we have good players and we have nothing to lose.”

The £16m signing from Lille knew he must be in good form to win a place in the squad and, having not played for Saints since March 31 after a bust-up with Mark Hughes, was always struggling to get to Russia next month.

Even when Boufal was on the pitch he was unable to produce and, as such, couldn’t win a regular starting role for Saints, starting just 11 Premier League games in 2017/18.

In total he made 30 appearances for Saints, but started just 15 in all competitions.

By the end of the campaign Boufal was nowhere near a first team place, having allegedly angered Hughes after refusing to warm-up during last month’s 3-2 defeat to Chelsea at St Mary’s.

Subsequently, Boufal was made to train with the club’s under-23s and didn’t appear in Saints’ final six games as they sealed Premier League survival.

Now, as Saints prepare to announce Hughes as permanent boss, Boufal has come out, admitting he may look to move back to France this summer.

Saints bought the attacker from Lille for a then club-record fee of £16m in August 2016, but it is becoming clear the move hasn't worked out.

“It's true that today a return to France interests me a great deal,” he is reported to have told French media outlet, SFR Sport.

“A good club in France that plays in Europe, of course, I would be very very interested in returning.

“It's a league I know, a language I know... so it's true, a return to France.

“L'Olympique de Marseille remain a very big club. This year they've made it to the final of the Europa League... of course, L'OM interests me, if they are interested, why not sign for them?”