Transfer speculation is usually a manager’s pet hate – but Nigel Adkins loves it.

With the January transfer window still more than two months away, Adam Lallana has been linked with a new year move to Premiership club Birmingham.

Saints boss Adkins admits he enjoys football gossip, and hopes other members of his squad will be mentioned in relation to higher division clubs.

That’s because Saints will be doing well if Premiership or Championship clubs are interested in his men.

“Speculation will always run rife,” he said ahead of in-form Saints’ League One trip to Huddersfield tomorrow.

“From previous experience, it usually starts in November time, not October.

“It reaches the point where every day I get asked a question about a player.

“I enjoy the banter that goes along with that and will do between now and the final day of the transfer window… and then it’ll be about the loan window.”

Daily Echo: More in today's Daily Echo