Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has been speaking ahead of this weekend’s game against Leicester.

The Austrian discussed the latest team news, his thoughts on Leicester, Manolo Gabbiadini, his priority in the transfer window and Charlie Austin’s FA charge.

1. Saints’ team news:

Daily Echo:

Ryan Bertrand

“Ryan [Bertrand] won’t be in contention for the Leicester game, it’s too early.

“He is training fit but not match fit and it will take time until he gets in that shape as normal because he didn’t train for a long time.

“Danny Ings can be an option for the Everton game, I hope he will be.

“Sam Gallagher is also back on the pitch. He isn’t 100 per cent but for most of the training he was with the team.”

2. His view on Leicester:

Daily Echo:

Leicester boss Claude Puel

“They are a strong team and a challenge for us but we are going there to get three points because we need to come out of this relegation zone so we have to get some wins or draws.

“If its’ a draw we take it, if it’s a win it’s better.

“We know about this tough challenge we are facing and a tough team with a lot of individual quality. Vardy and a few other players if you give them space and time they can kill you and that’s what we don’t want.

“For us it’s important to go with self confidence we built up.”

3. Manolo Gabbiadini’s move to Sampdoria:

Daily Echo:

Manolo Gabbiadini

“If you are a new manager at a new club you get the first experience, first impressions of the player and it seems to me he is a good player with fantastic technique but with this intensive pressing system we try to play, to be honest, it’s not his way of playing.

“It was better to find a solution that is better for both sides.

“We can’t show him what he wants to see form us and he can’t bring what we want to see from him so it’s better to find a different solution.

“I think it’s a good step for him to go back to Italy and I wish him all the best.”

4. If signing a striker is a priority for the club:

Daily Echo:

Hasenhuttl wants to provide back up for Danny Ings in the January transfer window

“That’s what we are forcing and what we are looking for to bring someone in in this transfer period.

“It’s not so easy in the winter because we must find a guy who is not for a short time makes us better but the long term.

“I only want to take a transfer which is with a future and helping us for a longer term. That’s what I want to see.”

5. The latest from The FA regarding Austin’s charge:

Daily Echo:

Charlie Austin

“We should get it today, but we haven’t heard yet.

“I will prepare that he can play at Leicester and if I know something else I will change it.”