MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed Jannik Vestergaard had just one full training session before stepping up to make his return in the Premier League.

The Danish defender had been out since mid-December with a knee problem – an issue which had kept him out of seven top-flight games.

Vestergaard, 28, returned to play 90 minutes in the St Mary’s side’s 3-2 defeat at Newcastle.

Speaking about the centre-back before the contest, boss Hasenhuttl said: “If I asked him to play, I am sure he will do it.”

Giving his post-match reaction after Saints slipped to a fifth straight league defeat on Tyneside, Hasenhuttl said: “Jannik is back. I think he had one session yesterday (Friday) and that’s it.

“After four weeks – the first time on the ball yesterday (Friday), then playing in a Premier League game.

“It’s not the easiest thing but for this, I think he did a good job.”

Saints have been decimated by injuries in recent weeks and are still waiting on the return of the likes of Ibrahima Diallo, Theo Walcott and Stuart Armstrong.

Mohammed Salisu and Nathan Tella were named on the bench in the north east, after stepping up their respective recoveries from muscle problems.

Michael Obafemi and Will Smallbone remain long-term absentees.

Asked whether he felt his side looked tired during the defeat to Newcastle, the Austrian boss replied: “I don't get that feeling but in some moments.

“We had a lot of changes in the team, happens all the time, no real automatism because we can't train.

“We don't really have the chance to work on anything, so you have to have a better start than we did.”

Saints make the trip to Wolves in the FA Cup on Thursday, before hosting Nuno Espirito Santo’s side at St Mary’s in the Premier League on Saturday.