FORMER Blackburn player and current BBC pundit Chris Sutton slammed Cedric for “undermining” Ralph Hasenhuttl.

In the build-up to last weekend’s game with Everton, Cedric outlined his intention to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

He was then hauled off at half time by Hasenhuttl after an abject display against the Toffees.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport, Sutton said: “You’ve got to question some of the players.

“Cedric Soares has said he wants to leave the club at the end of the season. If I was a Southampton fan, I would be furious that he has come out and said that publicly.

“Of course he is well within his rights to say what he likes and do what he likes but isn’t that a bit brainless and showing a lack of respect?

“He played at the weekend and he was horrific. He got dragged at half time but should have been dragged after 20 minutes.

“These players don’t help themselves at times with stuff like that. Is he undermining the manager in that respect? I’d say he is.”

Cedric had worked his way back into Hasenhuttl’s plans after initially being sent out on loan by the Austrian.

The Portuguese fell out of favour with the Saints boss last year and spent the second half of the campaign on loan with Inter Milan.

He made just nine appearances for the Italian side before reporting back to St Mary’s for Saints’ pre-season.

Hasenhuttl wiped the player’s slate clean and offered him the chance to dislodge Yan Valery at right back.

Cedric rose to the challenge and was back in Saints’ starting XI up until picking up an injury during the warm-up before the Tottenham match.

With the defender already having one eye on the St Mary’s exit door, Sutton has challenged him to start putting in the performances that would warrant a move away.

He added: “What chance has Hasenhuttl got when some of his current squad are saying they want to better themselves at the end of the season?

“If you want to better yourself, Cedric Soares, start playing well and then somebody big might come in for you.

“I don’t think it’s helpful, in fairness to Hasenhuttl, that players are coming out publicly saying this sort of stuff.

“I think it’s horrific, I really do.”