RUBEN Selles has refuted Kevin De Bruyne's claim that Saints are 'just missing a striker' after Manchester City cruised to victory at St Mary's on Saturday.

With Che Adams sidelined through injury, Selles opted to utilise Kamaldeen Sulemana and Charly Alcaraz up front against the reigning champions while natural strikers Sekou Mara and Paul Onuachu started on the bench.

Mara eventually came on in the second half to score Saints' only goal of the game but £18m January signing Onuachu failed to see the pitch for the second time in three games.

READ MORE: Selles - 'We always go on the front foot but we cannot go crazy'

Speaking after the match, Man City attacker De Buyne commended Saints' display while highlighting the lack of a centre-forward, saying: “I was talking to (James) Ward-Prowse at the end of the game. I think Southampton always play good but they are just missing at times a striker or something.”

"They are down there but always when we play them, they play really good football."

And asked about the Belgian's comments, Selles refuted the idea that his side are missing a focal point, citing the success his opposite number Guardiola has had with similar systems in recent years.

"No, I think sometimes you need to evaluate what you want from your team and I think the two options that we had up front were a threat and a proven threat so I don't think that the team without a number nine will give us anything different," Selles said. 

"That's why we decided to play with Carlos and Kamaldeen and De Bruyne can also tell you the number of times that they play with a false number nine and it works for Pep Guardiola."