MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl said it had been the “best choice” for Saints keeper Angus Gunn to go out on loan and added: “We hope that he gets a lot of time to play.”

The 24-year-old sealed a domestic transfer deadline day loan move to join Stoke City last month and has since made four appearances for the Potters.

Gunn came off the bench to make his Stoke City debut at Swansea, when he replaced regular keeper Adam Davies due to injury.

Since then, he has kept clean sheets against Rotherham and Championship leaders Reading – helping Stoke move to eighth in the second tier.

Gunn joined Saints from Manchester City in July 2018, following a successful loan spell at Norwich.

He has made 30 senior appearances for the St Mary’s side in total – his most recent coming in a 3-2 defeat at Tottenham in February.

With Alex McCarthy currently Hasenhuttl’s first-choice stopper and Fraser Forster occupying a spot on the bench, the Austrian boss said it was the right move to allow Gunn some game time elsewhere.

Asked about sending the keeper out on loan, Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: “We cannot give him what he wants to get.

“So if we cannot give him time to play, then it was perfect for him to go and play somewhere else and develop his game. It was definitely the best choice he can make.

“In the end, we hope that he gets a lot of time to play there and play good games.”

Asked whether Gunn could still have a future with Saints, the boss replied: “I’m really happy when you see players playing well on loan, from our side.

“Then I want to give everybody a chance to come back, but therefore they need to show up and they need to show that they develop their game.

“Because we are also moving forwards with our game and with our team, it’s not easy to come back to be honest. But never say never.”

Gunn’s last league appearance for his parent club came during Saints’ infamous 9-0 home defeat to Leicester, now more than 12 months ago.

On if confidence has been an issue for Gunn after losing his spot in Saints’ team, Hasenhuttl replied: “There are not as many subs in this position, so once you are in, you are in for longer.

“This is also okay because you need to trust him then and give him, also after mistakes, a chance to show again and show again.

“But then when the other one is stronger and deserves to play, then comes the moment where you are out and then you are out for longer.

“When another goalkeeper does a better job then it’s tough to come back. It’s like in every position, we want to have these duels, we want to have quality and doubling up in every position.

“It is the best you can have and then it’s a real battle about who is playing and this is normally a good situation for every club.”

Gunn has earned rave reviews following his start to life at Stoke from Potters boss Michael O’Neill.

Speaking after Saturday’s 3-0 success over the Royals, he said: “Angus has been really good since he’s come in, in a difficult situation.

“He’s been unfortunate in the goals that he’s lost. The goal down at Swansea when he had to come on at half-time – then the goals at Watford which were disappointing and harsh on him given the nature of the decision.

“The other two games he’s kept clean sheets, so we’re delighted.

“I think he gives good composure to his defence, kicks well, looks very assured with the ball at his feet and I think there is loads more to come.”