Saints could get as much as £400,000 for Oscar Gobern.

The 20-year-old midfielder turned down the offer of a new contract at St Mary’s in favour of a switch to League One side Huddersfield in the search for greater first team opportunities.

However, due to the rules about home-grown players, and given his age, Saints were entitled to compensation.

The two clubs were unable to agree on a fee and so it went to a tribunal which would appear to have been convinced by Saints’ argument.

They will receive £275,000 up front but that could rise to £400,000 with add-ons.

Gobern joined Saints after a short stint with Aston Villa and rose through the academy ranks.

He was handed a first team debut in the 2008/09 season before a brief loan spell with MK Dons in 2009/10 but has suffered with injuries over the past couple of years.

Gobern started seven first team games in his Saints career and also made 20 appearances from the bench.

After recovering from injury he seemed to have forced his way into Nigel Adkins’ plans at the back end of last season, making most of his ten sub appearances in Saints’ promotion winning campaign during that spell.

It was that fact that left Adkins disappointed when Gobern chose to move but with Dean Hammond, Jack Cork, Morgan Schneiderlin and Richard Chaplow as central midfield options Saints have quality in depth.

Gobern has started five games and made one sub appearance since joining Huddersfield.