SAINTS striker Brett Ormerod could be on his way out of St Mary's on loan early next week, writes Simon Carter.

But his agent, Richard Dunwoody, last night told the Daily Echo that, if the forward was loaned out, it would NOT be to Sunderland.

Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy confirmed yesterday morning that he had enquired about Ormerod, who has not figured for the first team since the opening day of the season at Aston Villa.

Dunwoody said: "Nothing will happen this weekend but there could be something going on on Monday.

"I can tell you that it's not Sunderland but I can't say who it could be."

The 27-year-old Ormerod has scored 11 league goals for Saints in 45 starts plus 27 as a sub since arriving at St Mary's for £1.75m in December, 2001.

But he seems to have fallen behind promising teenage strike duo Dexter Blackstock and Leon Best in the Saints striking pecking order in the last few weeks.

Best has sat on the first team bench in the last couple of games instead of Ormerod while Blackstock has impressed since recovering from pre-season groin surgery.

Best has already scored four goals for the reserves this season while Blackstock struck twice in his first 90 minutes of the season for Saints Under-18s last Saturday.