Wesley Hoedt and Fraser Forster could be shipped out during the transfer window as Ralph Hasenhuttl targets a new striker in January.

Dutch defender Hoedt, a £15m signing 18 months ago, has not been involved under Hasenhuttl and the Saints boss admitted he could be sold if the club can find a suitable buyer.

Hasenhuttl also rubbished reports that Forster is in line for a recall, and instead said the former England international might play for the under-23s in order to impress other potential clubs with Saints keen to move him on for the second window in a row.

Of Hoedt, Hasenhuttl said: “It’s right that nearly every player played a game until now and he didn’t.

“It’s difficult. I made the decision for Vestergaard, Jack Stephens in Derby County and Jack will take the part of Maya Yoshida who is gone for one month. That’s not the best for Wesley, that’s right.

“It’s the same as for Gabbiadini and Davo (Steven Davis). The guys went away because they find other solutions that are better for them. With Wesley it can be the same.

“We don’t send any player away but if he feels he is not used like he wants to be used then he should think about it.”

There had been talk that Forster could play again for Saints, but Hasenhuttl dismissed that theory.

“No, not really,” he admitted. “I had to make the choice to have two strong keepers with Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy and I think they did it well. Both.

“It will always be like it is if you have good experience made with one keeper then you don’t look for another one.

“It can be that Fraser can take a game in the under-23s so it’s possible to do in the future because he needs to get back into the position where he is an option for other clubs maybe, and that’s what we try to force in the future.”

This could be a tricky window for Hasenhuttl as he attempts to slim down his squad, but also risks having unhappy players left at the club.

“I think we have a good atmosphere now because everyone knows we have to do more like we did until now,” he insisted.

“Not everyone gets the chance to play or to show how good he is or how much he can help us but we have to make the decisions.

“If you take it then you have to explain the guys why you do it and I have spoken with everyone what I am demanding from them.

“It’s not easy the situation for him and for us we have to have success and we do everything to make this team better and our mixture.

“We make a few good steps forward and if you are not part of it then you have to take the decision what you do in the future.

“It’s all about having success.”

With Steven Davis and Manolo Gabbiadini heading out, the focus is also on bringing in new faces.

“We have a few players in our pipeline but there is not finalised until now,” reported Hasenhuttl.

“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.”