Claude Puel insists he remains focussed on improving Saints’ fortunes in the Premier League and not on signing a new striker in January.

With the news that Charlie Austin has been ruled out for up to four months with a shoulder injury that requires surgery, there is inevitable speculation that Saints will have to dip into the transfer market to replace him next month.

Puel is clearly still assessing the situation, and is determined to remain focussed on the job in hand for the time being.

He said: “I think it’s important for the moment to stay with a good concentration about our game until the end of the year, and after we will see this with calm in January.

“We have a striker, we have an offensive player, it’s important to give them confidence and I like these players and it’s important they play with all the confidence of the team and the staff.

“We will see after in January, but the most important is to consider and to respect all the players in my squad.”

Puel, who has no fresh injury problems ahead of Wednesday night’s game away to Stoke, added: “A market is a market and we don’t know what can happen.

“It’s important to consider my squad and to make progress with all these experienced players and young players.

“We will see with calm in January.

“I think it’s not time to speak about these possibilities."