SAINTS loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles insists he is not thinking about his future until the summer following his Arsenal departure announcement.

The 25 year old recently revealed he is leaving his boyhood Gunners having joined at the age of six and going on to make 132 appearances for the club.

Maitland-Niles has experienced his second relegation from the Premier League this season – his first came on loan at West Bromwich Albion in 2021.

The versatile midfielder and defender admits the Saints squad is hurting but he is trying to take the positives out of his third loan spell ahead of an uncertain summer.

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Maitland-Niles has expressed an interest in staying at St Mary’s and is likely to have interest from other clubs in the Championship – but may hang on for a Premier League chance.

Daily Echo: Southampton’s Aisnley Maitland-Niles in action before the Premier League match at St Mary's (Pic: Stuart Martin)

“Right now I’m just focussing on the football and then I’ll take it from there once the season has finished,” he insisted.

“Any team is going to be sad to get relegated so you would expect what is happening right now. Everyone is just trying to pick themselves up and train as best they can.

“We focus on the football, try and enjoy it as much as we can and take it from there. Every game is a new challenge and you have to enjoy every moment on the pitch.”

Maitland-Niles added: “I feel like I’ve grown up as a person this season, I’ve got to know myself more and have had players around me throughout the season.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been a difficult year for me personally, I know what I needed to do this season and I have tried to fulfil that to the best of my ability. It’s come to an end at Arsenal but there is always another chapter.”

Saints have only one game left of the Premier League season before a two-month gap precedes a first Championship campaign since 2011-2012.

Manager Ruben Selles used Sunday’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion – with relegation already confirmed – to blood in academy talents Kami Doyle and Dom Ballard.

Maitland-Niles says the focus of the group is to try and entertain supporters in the final game versus Liverpool, and adds he likes to see young players get their chances.

“The main thing is to keep them (fans) entertained, keep them happy and try and keep them on our side by doing as best we can for the rest,” he said.

“It’s a difficult situation, there’s a lot that has happened this season at the club but the main thing is that we (players) have stuck together through thick and thin right until the end.

“It would be nice to see some young players on the pitch, fresh faces and we can introduce them to the squad properly so they can proceed with their careers throughout the time they have at this club.”