Jeremy Pied is set to miss most of the season after confirming he has snapped his cruciate ligament.

Scans confirmed Saints' fears that the man only signed at the start of August on a free transfer will have to undergo surgery to repair the damage, and will be ruled for at least six months.

Pied was signed as cover for Cedric Soares.

Saints now face a dilemma in the remaining days of the transfer window as to whether to accept Everton's £2.5m offer for right back Cuco Martina and sign a new player, or to keep Martina as back up.

The Martina offer is seen as a great piece of business for a player who joined for around £1m a year ago and who doesn't fit into Claude Puel's plans.

However, if he went Saints would have to recruit another right back, even if it was only on loan.