KEVIN DAVIES kept Saints' FA Cup dreams alive on Saturday - but says he still has no future at the club.

The 25-year-old super-sub equalised Steve Claridge's first-half strike in the 89th minute to force a fourth round replay with Millwall next Tuesday at the New Den.

But Davies, the man who Saints once sold for more than £7m, is still hopeful of a transfer by the end of this week's mid-season deadline.

Indeed, but for injuries to Agustin Delgado and Marian Pahars, he might well have been released before the match against Millwall - ironically the club where he was on loan earlier in the season.

Davies says he would love to stay at St Mary's, but is certain his goal - which ensured the club did not suffer a second successive St Mary's defeat - will not persuade Saints to offer him a fresh contract at the end of the season.

He said: "I think it is probably too late for me now. I would love to stay here, but I've got to be realistic.

"I've not been offered a new contract and if you don't get a contract you look elsewhere.

"I have got to start looking for some options and I will just keep plugging away and see who is watching me.

"I have no idea what will happen.

"There has been a few clubs interested and there are a few days left in the transfer window so we will have to see what happens.

"I am not looking too far forward, just taking every day as it comes."

Davies' best chance of landing a new club is by impressing when he gets the chance for Saints - and he was understandably delighted with his goal in a competition that has already given him some special memories.

"It was very pleasing. I thought I could come on and get the equaliser and it was nice to score," he said.

"We didn't play very well so we are pleased to have got the draw. They matched us, so credit to them, they probably deserved to win.

"But it's the FA Cup and you have to keep battling until the last minute.

"I have great memories of the Cup from my time at Chesterfield. I scored a few the year we got to the semi-finals (1997) and it was just unbelievable.

"It was a great experience and it was probably what helped to get me a move to Southampton in the first place."

Manager Gordon Strachan said: "I was delighted for him to score. Kevin is a lovely lad.

"On Tuesday he was in the reserves, he played very well, scored a goal and only through his efforts - not good luck - got himself a subs spot.

"It shows players do have their destiny in their own hands."

Speaking of Davies' spell at Millwall, Lions' boss Mark McGhee added: "He came and did a good job for us and scored a few goals but we decided to let him come back.

"His career has stalled a bit but he's a very, very likeable lad.

"I didn't want him to score today, but if it helps him I have no problems with it."