FORMER Saints star Andrew Surman has not ruled out playing for South Africa in the future.

The Norwich midfielder, 26, was born in Johannesburg, although he represented England Under-21s during their 2009 European Championship qualifying campaign.

The Bafana Bafana were keen for Surman, signed by Norwich from Wolves in June 2010, to join up with them earlier this summer as they looked towards the next World Cup .

For now, though, Surman will put any international ambitions “on the back burner” as he concentrates on club matters and raising a young family in Norfolk.

“I haven't ruled it out, but it is just at this moment in time I don’t think it’s something I need in my life, though it was a great honour to be approached," Surman said.

“I think it would be a lot, especially with the African Nations Cup, to be travelling around the world.

“The club is my focus and I have got a young family, a three-year-old and a one-year-old.

“It's something that needs to be put on the back burner a little bit.

“We have had a new [Norwich] manager coming in as well and I need to concentrate fully on my club football.”

Surman, who left St Mary’s for Wolves in the summer of 2009 when Saints were in administration, agreed a new deal at Norwich in the summer following the arrival of Chris Hughton.

“He has come in and put his mark on things and stamped his authority and he's got the full respect of the players,” Surman added.

Meanwhile, Surman’s former Saints colleague, loanee Danny Guthrie, is hoping a prolonged run in Reading’s first-team could lead to an England call-up.

The 25-year-old moved to the Madejski Stadium after not being offered a new deal at Newcastle, where he had become more used to sitting on the bench.

He has impressed in his first two games for Reading and now the former Liverpool youngster is targeting a start to his international career.

“I'm a really ambitious person so I'd love to represent my country, it's one of the reasons why I did move on,” he said. “It's one of the things I want to tick off on my list and I feel if I'm playing well and regularly I can.

“You've got your top players - the (Steven) Gerrards, (Frank) Lampards and (Jack) Wilsheres - then after that I think there’s a chance for a new group of midfielders to come through.”

Guthrie, who had a loan spell at Saints in 2006/07, scored his first Reading goal in the 4-2 defeat at Chelsea and is playing in a more advanced role than he has been used to in the past.