Claude Puel has again refused to comment on Jose Fonte’s contract situation and hinted he could alienate his skipper still further by leaving him out of the Europa League decider against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

Fonte has claimed he has not been offered an extended contract at Saints, and has been informed by the club that he is not going to be.

Instead, it is understood he has been offered the chance of pay rise on his current deal which is due to expire in 2018.

Fonte also admitted his frustration at failing to realise what he had previously described as his “dream” of leading Saints in the Europa League, having yet to play a single minute of Group K action this season.

All eyes will be on Puel’s team selection at St Mary’s tonight, but in the build-up the Saints boss tried to focus on the team and praised Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens.

He said: “It’s a different situation. For example, against Sparta normally he played but he feels something, he feel a pain.

“Now it’s a situation with rotate and I am happy and satisfied about, for example, Maya.

“We are lucky to have a good centre back on the team with Virgil, Jose, Maya and also Stephens who is an international player with the under-21s. He played just one game also and deserves game time also.

“I think for me I consider the balance with all the players and not just with some players and important players also.

“Maya played very well in different games in this cup and it’s an important player also like Virgil and Jose, and for me it’s important to consider all the team and the collective first time and to respect this.”

Fonte spoke to the Daily Echo about his contract situation before taking to social media where he wrote: “Just to set the record straight I did NOT reject a new contract, in fact I have been informed by Southampton that they are NOT offering me a new contract. My focus is on Thursday helping us win the game!”

When asked for his reaction, Puel replied: “It’s a situation and discussion between the player and the club.

“I cannot give a comment about this.

“When I see this on newspaper I repeat the most important for me is to speak about the team and about the game and not just this personal situation, an individual situation.

“It’s important always for me to respect the collective.”

He added: “For me he takes his responsibilities and just this.

“For me it’s important to think every time collective. Collective.

“The subject for me is to discuss and to speak about the game, an important game, and about the collective and the team.

“For me the most important is the team.”

There has been speculation that Fonte has been left out of the Europa League this season in order to ensure he not cup tied ahead of a January move away from the club he has led from League One to their current lofty heights over approaching seven years.

“It was not the subject at the beginning of the season, just the work since the different players on this competition,” insisted Puel.

“For example, when we played against Arsenal it was a quarter-final and we did not change the team and we stayed with the team of young players because it’s a little bit the philosophy.

“We want to continue and to develop and to change.”