SAINTS were today being linked with former Scotland Braveheart captain Colin Hendry.

Reports from north of the border say that Hendry will quit Rangers next week and join an English Premier Division club, possibly on an initial three-month loan.

Glenn Hoddle's assistant John Gorman was unavailable for comment but the Saints boss has made no secret of his desire to sign another central defender and the big stopper, who won the Premier Division title with Blackburn, would fit the bill.

Former Saints manager Dave Jones is believed to have inquired about Hendry during the close season but was scared off by the size of the player's wages.

Hendry's return to his homeland has turned into something of a nightmare. Rangers' Dutch boss Dick Advocaat has made it clear Hendry does not figure in his long-term plans and the blond defender is already believed to have held talks with Watford, Sheffield Wedesday and West Ham about a possible return to English football where his domestic career climaxed by leading Blackburn to the Premiership title in 1994-95.

Although he still has at least a year of his contract to run, Rangers would be willing to farm him out and Hendry has told one Scottish newspaper he expects to play out this season with an English Premier Division club, with a permanent move south likely to happen in the close season.

But any hopes Saints or other English clubs may harbour of landing Hendry could be ditched by an injury to Rangers captain and defender Nicola Amoruso who was stretchered out of last night's Scottish Premier Division 1-1 draw at St Johnstone.

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