Ecuador want Delgado back

Delgado was the joint top scorer in the South American qualifiers with nine goals, equal to Argentina's Hernan Crespo but suffered a knee injury that threatened his transfer to The Premiership.

Having completed his deal, the first thing Delgado did was to have an operation on his troublesome knee and despite making his debut for Gordon Strachan's side, the same injury has flared up again, causing Ecuador and Southampton to look at ways to ensure the services of their player.

FEF president Luis Chiriboga said: "The Federation, the coach of Ecuador, Hernan Gomez, the doctor of the selection Patricio Maldonado and I, have sent a request to the directors of the Southampton so that they authorise us to help the recovery of the injury to Delgado but in Ecuador."

Chiriboga added that Maldonado met in Holland with the doctor who operated on Delgado last November and displayed the necessary documentation to take over the recuperation of the player.

Delgado has complained of his treatment under Strachan and Chiriboga added: "All this does not leave the player in a good mental state and to ensure that he recovers, we have asked for the possibility to let him rehabilitate in Ecuador and we commit ourselves to saying that in 90 days he will be fully recovered.

"The expense of the recovery of the forward will be the responsibility of the Federation."