Saints manager Nigel Adkins is refusing to be drawn over the possibility of the club signing cover for the injured Adam Lallana in January.

The midfielder has missed the last two matches with knee ligament damage and is expected to be sidelined for some weeks yet.

Adkins would only confirm that he will not feature in tomorrow’s visit to Stoke, and was coy when asked about the possibility of a new signing as a short-term replacement for the absent captain.

However, the Saints boss did admit that, like all of the division’s other clubs, they will be looking to conduct some business during the transfer window.

“He’s not going to play against Stoke and that is all we’re going to talk about,” said Adkins, when asked for an update on Lallana.

“We are not going to speculate about anybody. It is fair to say in January all teams will be open for business.”

Saints have already been linked with a move for a new keeper next month, with Blackburn’s Paul Robinson rumoured to be attracting interest. Adkins was giving little away, though.

“There is speculation about everybody, I don’t know where it comes from half the time,” he said.

Full story in today's Daily Echo