Kleber Chala is desperate to get his first taste of the Premiership after marking his first appearance in a Saints shirt with a goal.

The new Ecuador winger crowned a steady start with a classy steer home to round off a 4-0 win over Charlton Reserves in a closed doors friendly at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium yesterday.

It was his first chance to impress manager Gordon Strachan who had not previously seen him play a match and the £500,000 signing is hoping he has done enough to catch the eye.

Chala was on the bench at Derby soon after signing but Strachan felt unable to throw him on because of the language barrier and since then he has failed to make the senior squad.

Both Chala and his compatriot and cousin Agustin Delgado are now having English lessons and the winger is burning to get a chance.

Speaking through an interpreter he said: "I enjoyed my first game. Now I am just itching to get a go in the Premiership.

"The manager had only seen me in training so this was his first chance to see me in a full game. So far he has only seen me on the training ground.

"I can still do better but hopefully I have done my cause no harm. It was nice to score and to be involved with two of the other goals.

"I did not lose the ball too often and I made a few good runs. It is obviously up to the manager when and how he wants to play me but I cannot wait to get my chance.

"Communication is a bit of a problem but I have started to try and learn English and I would love to get a go soon."

Chala is hoping for a place on the bench at Everton on Sunday while £3.2 million capture Delgado is still on target for a possible debut at Old Trafford on December 22.

He is recovering well from a minor knee operation and said: "So far so good. The knee feels OK. I have done some light training and a few weights and hopefully I will be able to start kicking a ball in two weeks.

"My target is the game at Manchester United and I think it is a realistic one, but if it takes until after Christmas then so be it.

"There is no point in rushing and perhaps breaking down. I want to be sure I am right for my first game for Southampton."

l Saints are still waiting to hear whether Blackpool will accept their improved offer for striker Brett Ormerod.

Gordon Strachan has upped the bid to £1.5 million for the 20-goal hitman who has also attracted interest from Wigan.

The Second Division club want £2 million but accept they are unlikely to be able to deny the former Blackburn trainee his chance of playing in the Premiership.

Saints, though, have denied reports that they have made a move for former Colden Common winger Steve Guppy who is out of favour at Celtic.

The lifelong Southampton fan has barely had a sniff since his move north of the border from Leicester. He was due to play for them at Livingstone in midweek but the game was called off because of a power failure.

The Glasgow club are reportedly ready to let him go for half the £700,000 they paid but chairman Rupert Lowe said: "There is no truth in the rumour. There has not been any contact."