Southampton boss Claude Puel will not panic buy Charlie Austin cover
Monday 12 December 2016 17:44, UK
Southampton manager Claude Puel does not intend to panic buy in the January transfer window to replace injured frontman Charlie Austin.
Austin is expected to have surgery on a shoulder problem suffered in last week's Europa League tie against Hapoel Be'er Sheva which is expected to sideline him for the best part of 12 weeks.
Sofiane Boufal, the club's £16m record summer signing, was on target as Saints beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday.
Jay Rodriguez had started up front before Shane Long came off the bench in the second half and Puel feels it is now important to allow the rest of the squad to help fill the void left by the loss of Austin, who was the leading scorer with nine goals prior to his injury.
"Charlie will have to make surgery on his shoulder and normally would be between three or four months out, but now it is important to look forwards and to give the possibilities to other players, like Shane (Long) or Jay," Puel said ahead of their trip to Stoke in the Premier League on Wednesday.
"It is important now that they can take the responsibility, it is a good opportunity for other players.
"I think it is important for the moment to stay with a good concentration on our game until the end of the year, after we will see what will come in January.
"We have strikers and offensive players, so it is important to give them confidence and I like these players.
"It is important they can play now with all of the confidence of the team and staff. We must respect all of the players of my squad.
"A [transfer] market is a market - and we don't know what can happen.
"It's important to consider my squad and to make progress with all these experienced players and young players.
"We will see with calm in January. I think it's not time to speak about these possibilities."
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