A POLL run by the Daily Echo revealed that Saints fans were crying out for a striker to be signed during the January transfer window.

At the beginning of last month, readers were prompted to pick where they thought the squad needed to be strengthened the most.

Of the 2,441 people that participated, 48 per cent of those wanted the club to secure the services of an attacker to bolster Saints’ front line.

And given that both Danny Ings and Michael Obafemi have injuries, it’s easy to see why supporters wanted a new acquisition in this department.

Ings limped off with a suspected hamstring injury during the first half against Burnley, whereas Obafemi has been out of action since he scored in the Huddersfield match before Christmas.

Charlie Austin was back on the bench at Turf Moor after the cloud of uncertainty surrounding his future drifted away.

The striker was told he could leave the club if the right offer came in that suited both parties.

Saints did make an offer to Birmingham City for their ace Che Adams, but the Championship side wasn’t willing to let their star player leave.

That offer for Adams remained on the table throughout the final day of the transfer window, only for Birmingham to ignore it, which could land them in trouble for breaching the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules.

The second most wished for signing that Saints fans wanted was for a defender.

39 per cent wanted Ralph Hasenhuttl to tighten up at the back following the departure of Wesley Hoedt and Cedric Soares.

Hoedt joined fellow Saint Sofiane Boufal on loan at Celta Vigo, with Cedric opting to sign for Inter Milan for the remainder of the season.

Again, Saints were linked with a number of defenders throughout the window, but nothing materialised.

21-year-old right back Joakim Mæhle was top of Hasenhuttl’s wish list.

However, with Genk currently top of the Belgian First Division A, they fought to keep hold of the youngster, although it’s likely Saints will go back in for him this summer.

11 per cent opted to vote for the midfield as the area that should be a priority when it came to strengthening the squad last month.

But, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oriol Romeu, Callum Slattery, James Ward-Prowse, Mario Lemina, Stuart Armstrong and Mohamed Elyounoussi, there appears to be enough strength in depth.

And although Davis left the club on loan to join Rangers, that didn’t leave the starting XI short as he wasn’t anywhere near the team at the time of leaving.

Perhaps, unsurprisingly, only one per cent of supporters thought Saints needed to add a goalkeeper to the ranks.

That’s one department where the club does look strong as they have a senior and under-21 England international in Alex McCarthy and Angus Gunn at their disposal.

One per cent of Saints fans got what they wanted, though, as they believed the squad was fine as it is and didn’t need any new signings to come in.

Time will tell whether the St Mary’s side made the right call not to sign anyone, but Hasenhuttl’s position on the matter stayed consistent throughout the window.

The Austrian didn’t want to bring anyone in for the sake of it because he only wanted the club to spend on a player that suited his long-term vision.

Due to this approach, there wasn’t going to be a panic buy scenario in the final days of the transfer window.

Here's how you voted: