ON-LOAN winger Nathan Tella says he was ‘confused’ about what his future would hold in January but that he never received a call from Saints boss Nathan Jones before eventually staying with the Championship leaders at least until the end of the season.

Tella joined Vincent Kompany’s side on a season-long loan in the summer and has flourished in the second division, notching nine league goals as Burnley sit seven points clear at the top of the Championship table.

The attacker’s good form - coupled with Saints’ struggles up front - led to calls for Tella to be recalled in the January window and while Jan Bednarek was brought back from his loan at Aston Villa, no return materialised for Tella.

READ MORE: 'I don't know' - Jones coy on future amid Saints fan unrest following latest defeat

“There was a point where I was just so confused!” Tella admitted to LancsLive about the January decision. 

“I didn't know if I was staying or going! I spoke to my agent and he assured me the right thing to do was to stay here and focus on here and if Southampton call you then give your opinion on what you want. But he (Jones) didn't call me so that just cemented in my head that I would be here for the season.

"Once we got past that point it allowed me to focus and work hard and continue to do what I have been doing. 

"He (Jones) has been in the game long enough and has spoken to my agent and he has redirected what I think is best for me and I have always said I wanted to have a full season out on loan and ultimately play games consistently. 

“At Southampton, I might not play as much as I would if I was here so it was looking at that and weighing up the pros and cons. Ultimately I am still here and looking forward."

The 23-year-old forward signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal in January 2022 to tie him to Saints for the foreseeable future but Jones admitted recently that Tella’s future at St Mary’s is no certainty.

“Nathan is doing fantastic under Vincent (Kompany) and is having a wonderful season for his development,” Jones said. “At the end of the season, there's a big decision to make. But it's been a really productive loan for him and it is in his benefit to stay there."

Meanwhile, Tella himself says he hasn’t given consideration to his long-term future just yet as he focuses on Burnley’s promotion bid.

"I have not really thought about the summer yet," he said. "I have just been thinking about the next few games and winning games and winning the league. All I can do is the best I can, we have a really talented team and a lot of ambitions. 

“The future will take care of itself and is not in my hands so I will try and continue to do the right things and whatever will happen will happen.”

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