Ronald Koeman could move for striker if injuries persist
Thursday 31 December 2015 11:39, UK
Ronald Koeman could enter the transfer market for a striker in January but will not panic buy.
Southampton will again be without two of their front-line forwards when they go to Norwich on Saturday as Graziano Pelle and Jay Rodriguez miss out.
Rodriguez has not played for more than two months because of a foot injury and is not expected back until at least late January, while Pelle sits out a third straight game with a knee injury this weekend.
The recovery of both players will inform Koeman's plans for the transfer window, and he said: "I'm not a manager in panic because we are 12th in the table. I don't do business like this.
"We know our players and our qualities, and if there's something to do it's about how recovered Pelle is in the next couple of weeks and how Jay Rodriguez will come back.
"These are two strikers, two good players and if we don't have them back maybe that's a question to sign a new striker, but not other positions in the team. We have enough competition and I'm pleased with the rest of the squad."
Rodriguez was originally due back in January but that target could be revised according to Koeman, who said: "He will come back, but maybe it takes two or three weeks more.
"I think it will be the end of January or early February when he is available to play. He will do training sessions earlier, but he is still out of the team sessions."
Koeman also denied reports that Steven Caulker's season-long loan from QPR could be cut short, saying: "My plan is that he stays until the end of the season, and then we need to make a decision."
