Gordon Strachan likes hungry strikers and in Brett Ormerod he believes he has one who fits right in the mould.

The Southampton boss has been tracking the former Blackpool marksman for some time and is delighted to have added him to the squad.

With Marian Pahars and James Beattie currently in pole position, Strachan now has six frontline strikers in contention - Kevin Davies, the recovering Agustin Delgado, Uwe Rosler, now back after a month's loan with West Brom, and Ormerod.

Strachan, though, likes what he has seen. "He is hungry," said Strachan. "I have watched Ormerod a few times and he likes scoring goals.

"When he is in a position to score goals there is no panic about him. He is strong, makes good runs, is reasonably quick and brave, and in his life he has not been born with a silver spoon, that's for sure.

"He got knocked back at Blackburn, then went to Blackpool as a kid and broke his leg. So physically and mentally he has shown he can recover, and I think that is good.

"People who have had knock-backs early in their career can move forward, and he has a chance to play at a higher level than before.

"Ormerod has got hunger and, unfortunately, because of the financial gains in football and the way some players have been brought up, it is very hard to find people with hunger.

"If you can find them, you grab them."

Delgado has targeted the Manchester United match in two weeks' time as a tentative date for his first team debut following knee surgery.

However the Southampton manager remains doubtful whether the December 22 match at Old Trafford is a realistic target.

"I've just watched him jogging and he has still got a limp. That's frustrating, because everyone tells me he is some player.

"And if he is half as good as everyone says he is, then we're in with a winner. But I can't see him being fit for the United game."