SAINTS head coach Jan Poortvliet said he is delighted to be getting a “motivated” player, Jordan Robertson, in return for Nathan Dyer.

Sheffield United striker Robertson, 20, joined Saints yesterday on loan, until December 28.

Saints winger Dyer, 21 in November, moved in the opposite direction for the same period of time, although Poortvliet said things could be reassessed at Christmas.

The deal is still subject to Football League clearance.

In what appeared to be a thinly veiled swipe at Dyer, Poortvliet said he was pleased to be receiving a “motivated” player and felt it was a good move for both parties.

Dyer only signed a new three-year deal at St Mary’s in July, but has made just one first team start this season.

Following the opening day 2-1 defeat to Cardiff, Poortvliet said Dyer had to “not think of himself or other people, but about the team” after being jeered by the crowd.

Poortvliet said: “This is the best deal for both players.

“Nathan needs to play regularly and we have several players in the same position.

“It is a short term deal and we will reassess things in December.

“We will be getting a motivated player in return who is a promising talent.

“Jordan is a goalscorer and a powerful striker, who can play on both sides as well.

“I have followed him for some time and was thinking of signing him whilst I was in Holland. He is keen to show what he can do.”

Dyer, right, has only started one of Saints’ seven Championship games this season – being substituted after 64 minutes of the 2-2 home draw against Ipswich.

He has come on as a sub in three other games, plus the Carling Cup exit at Rotherham.

It is Dyer’s second loan spell away from Saints – he scored twice in four Championship starts for Burnley plus one as sub in 2005/06.

In 36 Championship appearances for Saints plus another 20 from the bench, Dyer has also netted once.

Robertson, meanwhile, made his debut for his hometown club as a second half sub in Tuesday’s 6-0 Carling Cup thrashing at Arsenal.

He has Football League experience, though, from loan spells in League One with Northampton in 2006/07 (3 goals in nine starts plus three as a sub), Oldham last season (one goal in two starts plus one as a sub) and Torquay in League Two in 2006/07 (2 goals in five starts plus four as a sub).

Robertson also scored twice for Torquay in an FA Cup second round replay win at Leyton Orient in December 2006 that earnt them a home tie again t Saints, which he didn’t play in having gone back to Sheffield United.

In addition, the player impressed in a loan spell with Scottish Premier League outfit Dundee United last season, scoring four goals in 12 starts plus another three from the bench.

Two of those goals came in a 3-1 win against Hearts at Tyncastle last October.