RICHARD Chaplow has thanked Saints manager Nigel Adkins for rescuing him from the football wilderness.

And the on-loan Preston midfielder also revealed he would be interested in signing permanently at St Mary’s if things go well.

Chaplow fell out of favour at his parent club shortly after Alan Irvine was replaced by Darren Ferguson last January.

He was eventually relegated to training with the kids at Deepdale and, this season, had to sit at home watching television on Saturday afternoons instead of playing.

But when Adkins was appointed Saints boss, Chaplow hoped that would lead to his career being rescued.

Adkins had previously shown interest in the player while he was in charge at Scunthorpe.

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And, much to Chaplow’s delight, he made him his first signing at Saints, albeit on an initial onemonth loan.

“I’m ecstatic,”

Chaplow told the Daily Echo. “I’m more than happy to be back.

“Nigel showed a bit of interest while he was Scunthorpe manager.

“When he got the move down here I was hopeful that he’d still maybe try and get me down.

“Luckily for me, he did.”

Chaplow is in his second loan spell at Saints, having been brought in by George Burley during the 2005/06 season, when the club was in the Championship.

Last Saturday’s sub appearance in the 2-0 win against Cherries was the first time since March that the 25-year-old had played a first-team game.

He hopes he can impress enough to extend his onemonth loan and perhaps do enough to earn a full-time contract.

“My goals are just to get playing again,” said Chaplow.

“Last Saturday was the first time this season I’ve been involved on a Saturday, so it was nicer going out on the pitch than watching Sky Sports News in front of the fire at home, with two screaming kids.

“Hopefully I can just get in as many minutes as I can and help the team get up the league.

“That’s first and foremost got to be the main aim. Fingers crossed, from there I can maybe get a couple of months more.

“I honestly don’t know what sort of position Southampton are in, in terms of being able to sign players.

“Obviously it’s something I’d be interested in.

“But that’s obviously up to the gaffer and up to me on depending how well I do while I’m here.”

With Morgan Schneiderlin on under-21 duty with France, Chaplow could be in line to start against Tranmere at St Mary’s tomorrow.

While he has been short of competitive action in recent months, he insisted his fitness is good.

“Yeah, definitely,” he said, when asked if he would be available to start.