ALAN BENNETT is banishing all thoughts of being a loan signing from his head.

The 25-year-old centre half, twice capped by the Republic of Ireland, yesterday joined Saints on a six month loan from Reading.

He was immediately thrown in at the deep with 90 minutes in a pre-season friendly at Millwall.

Despite the fact he is not technically a Saints player, Bennett is approaching his stint at St Mary's as if he is.

He said: "Loan spells don't happen in Ireland. Wherever I go I just want to play and be part of a team.

"The whole loan thing is a bit alien to me but once I come into a dressing room I just want to be part of a team and part of the set-up, no matter where I am.

"Some players might think I'll go down there and be back in a couple of months' but that's not how I see it.

"I'm down here to do a job, and I want to do it and prove myself."

He continued: "Once I'd had a chat with the manager I said I want to come here and I want to play.

"I told him I didn't want to come here as temporary back up.

"I told him I wanted to play and that I wanted to be a Southampton player."

Full story in today's Daily Echo.