SAINTS manager Nathan Jones has urged for caution around the long-term injury recovery of full-back Tino Livramento.

The talented 20-year-old has been sidelined ever since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament at Brighton & Hove Albion in April; with an eye on a potential post-World Cup return.

Jones has previously indicated that Saints will look to get Livramento back in January but speaking to the Daily Echo ahead of Wednesday night’s EFL Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City, the former Luton Town boss refused to put a concrete timeline on the youngster's much-anticipated return.

READ MORE: Livramento backed to be 'even better than he was' when he returns from injury

“What I’m loathe to do…and I’ll tell you a story,” Jones said. “We have Chris Cohen here who was a wonderful player that would have played in the Premier League. Fantastic player who had to retire early because he came back too early from a cruciate injury and ended up having three and it ruined his career at 30. 

“We won’t do that with anyone. So Tino, we’re not going to rush Tino back. Tino’s a fantastic player but he’s also a young man and a real diligent human being. So what we won’t do is push him. 

“Even though Tino wants to be pushed, we will not bring him back until it’s absolutely safe to do so. And that’s the important thing.”

Livramento himself is understandably eager to get back on the pitch and aid Saints’ survival chances but Jones and the club have taken the decision away from the Chelsea academy graduate.

“You take it (the decision) out of their hands because it’s a medical decision,” Jones explained.

“It’s not a romantic decision or a sentimental decision, it’s a medical decision. What we would hate to do is get three or four games out of Tino and then lose him for another year.”

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