Argentinian winger Federico Arias has been released by Saints after an unsuccessful five-month spell at St Mary's.

The 23-year-old, nicknamed Torpedo because of his pace, never made an appearance for the first team and scored just once for the reserves.

Saints had initially insisted Arias had been signed on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, but have now confessed he was only here for six months and will return to Velez Sarsfield in Argentina.

Gordon Strachan said: "There was never any fee involved - he was only here until the end of the season. His style of play didn't suit ours."