SAINTS boss Ronald Koeman has been urged to go out and sign England winger Andros Townsend next month.

The 24-year-old has fallen out of favour at Tottenham this season, with boss Mauricio Pochettino only handing him three Premier League substitute appearances so far.

Ex-Saints boss Pochettino has said Townsend could leave White Hart Lane when the January transfer window opens – and former Dell striker Gordon Watson is adamant he would be “absolutely perfect” for Koeman.

The Saints manager is currently wrestling with a run of just one point from four league games, and a 6-1 home League Cup humiliation by Liverpool.

Watson believes Townsend’s pace would inject fresh impetus into Saints in a bid to prevent the season petering out into mid-table anonymity – or worse.

“Clubs should be looking to sign anyone who has a point to prove, and Andros Townsend certainly has that,” said Watson.

“He can turn defence into attack in a matter of seconds, and Ronald needs players who can give his defence a breather.

“The only pace we really have is when Mane is on the ball, or down the left with Ryan Bertrand.”

Townsend made a stunning start to his England international career in October 2013 when he scored on his full debut against Montenegro.

He netted a stunning equaliser against Italy last March, in a friendly game which had seen Saints’ Graziano Pelle give the hosts the lead.

Townsend remains in Roy Hodgson’s thoughts, and appeared in a Euro 2016 qualifying win in Luthiania in the autumn.

But unless he gets regular games, it is hard to see him going to France next summer.

Watson added: “Andros Townsend should know that if he wants to go to the Euro Championship finals next summer he will have to pull up massive trees.

“Saints should go out and sign him, play him, and that would only be to Southampton’s benefit.”

Saints were interested in bringing Townsend to St Mary’s shortly after Koeman replaced Pochettino as manager in the summer of 2014.

But Pochettino, having only recently arrived at Tottenham, did not want to sell the player.

That situation has changed now, though.

Townsend made over 30 competitive appearances for the north London club in each of the past two seasons, but has been restricted to just seven in 2015/16.

Koeman admitted last week that he could look to bring in an attacking player when the transfer window opens in a few weeks time.

Townsend, who has made 50 Premier League appearances for Tottenham, has been linked with Newcastle.

But the Londoner would surely jump at the chance to remain in the south.

Watson continued: “At the moment Saints are easy to set up against because other managers know how they will play.

“They know it will be Wanyama and someone else in the centre of midfielder and Tadic, Mane and Pelle up front.

“Teams know to play a high line against Pelle, and to go deeper if Shane Long comes off the bench.”