MARK Hughes believes Saints is the ‘perfect’ club for Danny Ings and admits the striker could be thrown straight into frontline action against Burnley on Sunday after his transfer deadline day switch from Liverpool.

Turned down by the club for being too small at the age of 10, the 26-year-old striker is now finally a Saints player after going via AFC Bournemouth, Burnley and Liverpool.

Southampton boy Ings, who was brought up kicking a ball around at Netley Recreation Ground, joined on a season-long loan deal yesterday ahead of making the move permanent next summer in a £16m deal.

It was all very last minute, with Saints flying Ings down on a private jet to Southampton Airport and getting an extension past the 5pm transfer deadline from the Premier League to force the deal through.

“It’s a loan initially but that’s why the negotiation took so long but it’s one clearly we wanted to do,” Hughes said.

“The two clubs obviously had to come to an arrangement where they were comfortable with the deal on offer and in the end we got to the point where it was a win win situation for both clubs and, more importantly, for Danny as well, because he’s come to a club he’s clearly got a lot of affection for and maybe a point to prove.

“We’re the perfect club for him at this point in his career.”

The former Hamble Community College and Brockenhurst College student is ready for action, according to Hughes, meaning he could be in action in the Premier League curtain raiser against Burnley at St Mary’s on Sunday.

“He’s available, we’ll see how he is over the next couple of days, but clearly there’s enthusiasm from him and, I’m sure, that he’d want to be part of that,” Hughes said.

“He’s fit and well. He’s trained and had game time in pre-season. If I make that decision, he’ll be ready to go. But we’ll see how he goes over the next two days but clearly he becomes an option for me.”

Hughes met up with Ings last night as owner Jisheng Gao gathered staff together ahead of the Premier League's kick-off on Sunday.

He said: "I saw Danny late last night. We were just having a get together as a staff of both football and business sides, which was called by the chairman.

"We had a drink at the end to celebrate, obviously Danny came late on and our owner Mr Gao was present as well, so all in all it was a good evening."