GRAEME LE SAUX has indicated he may extend his playing career beyond the end of the season.

The 36-year-old left-sided former England international has overcome niggling injuries to hold down a regular starting place in midfield under Harry Redknapp over the past two months and that has given him the confidence to believe he may not be finished just yet.

Le Saux, who comes up against former side Chelsea at St Mary's this afternoon, will be out of contract at the end of the season and was widely expected to retire from football and take up a career in the media having already become one of the BBC's top summarisers.

However, he may not be finished just yet.

He said: "I will decide what I do at the end of the season."I'm 36 now and I've had a few niggling injuries.

"It's the wear and tear than comes with getting older and you start to realise you've played quite a few games and it's no surprise bearing in mind the battering I've given my body.

"Right now I honestly don't know what I'll do. I love football.

"It has been my life as a professional since I was 17 and I have been playing since I was four or five.

"Given the situation we're in as a team as well it's not about me at the moment. I just want to do as much as I can and play until the end of the season and then I'll take a break and see how I feel.

"It's important if you've got any pride to have consistency and since I've been at Southampton there have been times where I've not been able to have a real run of games and that's frustrated me.

"That will play a part in my decision at the end of the season because people don't see the work you put in in the gym - they just see your name on the team sheet or not on it.

"I'm a proud person and if I do stop or I do continue it's got to be for the right reasons and that's to play football not to spend hours and days in the treatment room or the gym."

Saints will review all players out of contract or soon to be out of contract during the summer after they know the result of their relegation battle and much could also depend on what deal they could offer Le Saux with Chelsea currently contributing significantly to his weekly wage.

Le Saux also hailed his partnership with left back Olivier Bernard and added: "He's a talented player and we've got an understanding. I've had to dust off my French books and remember a few of the phrases from when I was a kid but on the whole it's going very well."