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.
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