SAINTS manager Russell Martin explained Armel Bella-Kotchap is still sidelined by injury but insists he has been really “exciting” to work with on his return to training.

Bella-Kotchap had not featured at all during pre-season due to injury, after undertaking individual conditioning with physios at St Mary’s over the summer.

The 21 year old defender has been linked with a move away this summer amid reported interest from the likes of RB Leipzig, after relegation from the Premier League.

German international Bella-Kotchap remains a Saints player but is still far away from being ready to feature again. Martin has ruled him out for the next two weeks at least.

Meanwhile, the transfer window is open for just under four more. Martin told the Daily Echo: “He’s trained for the last five days and he has been great.

“Armel just excites you by looking at him because of sheer size and physicality right? I mean that in a football sense.

“When you look at him, he is an imposing guy. When I shook his hand on the first day I thought he was huge. He possesses unbelievable athleticism and physicality.

“I think he’s had a really tough time of it. He’s come here and got injured and it’s a long summer when you see everyone here there and every, most of them probably in Dubai.”

He added: “It’s difficult when you’re here, working with the physios every day. It’s a tough period for him and there’s a bit of noise around his future, as a young man.

“I’ve been really pleased with him, the way he has trained this week has been amazing. He’s a long way off playing but as a first step to coming back, the physios have done a great job.

“We’ve worked him a lot this week within the parameters of what he can do. Slowly he will integrate back into the group properly.

“If he is here, I will be really excited to work with him because I think he can definitely help us and we can help him. It’s in his own interest and our own to get him fit and see what happens then.”

Martin is currently left with Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Lyanco, Shea Charles and Bella-Kotchap as central defence options after Mohammed Salisu and Duje Caleta-Car’s departures.

Former Arsenal youngster Zach Awe will add another option when his free transfer is confirmed but the 19 year old will initially join the under-21s.

With already more than half-a-dozen players set to miss out on the matchday squad every week, Martin admits the club will likely not target another centre-back without a departure first.

He explained: “We had six centre-halves when we came in and we are never going to play a back-six, so we don’t need that many.

“Don’t quote me on that, though, because a time may come at the end of the season we need to!

“We’ll have to wait and see now because if somebody goes out, we will have to replace them. As it stands, we have four and that’s a good number – although one is not fit.

“Hopefully then you have one or two exciting youngsters around that but we will have to see. Otherwise, we are where we are currently.”