MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted he had been “surprised” to see Michael Obafemi already back in training with Saints – and heard he took his rehab very seriously.

The 20-year-old frontman went under the knife on a muscular problem back in January, having seen a reported loan move to Swansea scuppered during the transfer window.

Saints boss Hasenhuttl previously stated the Republic of Ireland international had been ruled out for the campaign with the issue – but now insists they would look at Obafemi’s progress further.

Asked about Obafemi’s recovery process, the Austrian boss told the Daily Echo: “It definitely looks good. I was surprised.

“I didn’t have him on the list for this season to be honest because it was a surgery on his muscle and normally it takes time.

“He looks good, he looks fit so far. We must have a look when he steps more in the team training sessions, how he looks then.

“But I am happy to have him back fit.”

Obafemi had played just twice for Saints in all competitions at senior level this season.

His most recent appearance came off the bench in a 1-0 victory at Burnley back in September.

Speaking to the Daily Echo in November, Hasenhuttl admitted the 20-year-old “makes it too easy for others to go above him" in Saints’ pecking order.

He also insisted Obafemi “still has to learn a lot”.

Asked whether he hoped his time out of the team had made the striker take stock of his career, Hasenhuttl replied: “I haven’t had so much contact in the past two months with him because he’s always with the recovery group.

“But what I have heard is he took his time very serious in his rehab, that he worked very hard.

“I have often in my career made the experience that sometimes for some players it is quite helpful to have something of a big injury because then they are coming back with much more effort, much more professionalism.

“They see it is not simply there that you are a professional footballer – that you have to work hard for it and, if you do it in this way, then you get a different mindset sometimes.

“That can change everything in your career.

“I have very often seen players then having a completely different mindset – what you as a manager normally cannot change in that way.”