MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola says he was merely checking in on the health of Romeo Lavia when the pair were spotted engaging in conversation on the St Mary’s pitch following Saints’ 4-1 defeat on Saturday.

Lavia started against his former club and lasted 80 minutes before being withdrawn due to a ‘tight hamstring’ - according to boss Ruben Selles.

The severity of the injury is not yet known but Lavia could be seen after the game chatting with Guardiola before joining his Saints teammates as they walked around the ground saluting the St Mary’s support.

And speaking after his side’s victory, City manager Guardiola explained to the Daily Echo what was said in his conversation with the exciting Saints midfielder.

“He’s 17/18 years old and how many minutes has he already played in the Premier League?” Guardiola said. “Along an experienced player in Ward-Prowse, very good. I asked him about the injury, if it was just fatigue or cramp, hopefully it’s not serious.

“I’m very pleased because he’s a really nice guy and the potential we saw there was important. The problem is if he was still with us, then he was not going to play. 

“So to have the opportunity to go in the Premier League with Southampton who work really well with the academy - what an opportunity. To play week in week out, for him and his experience, it will be amazing.”

City hold a buyback clause on Lavia as part of the deal that brought him to the South Coast in the summer but that clause can only be triggered from the end of next season.

Still just 19-years-old, a breakthrough season for Lavia has seen the former Anderlecht academy starlet make 18 Premier League starts while also earning his maiden international cap for Belgium.

Selles and Saints will be anxiously waiting for the determination of his fitness as they prepare for the final eight games of the relegation battle.