Vegard Forren has rejected the chance to return to Norway on loan to stay and fight for his Saints place.

The 25-year-old Norwegian centre half joined Saints in January from Molde for a fee of £3.5m, but has yet to feature in a single minute of first team action.

His former Molde boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has admitted enquiring as to whether he could get his former charge back on loan to boost his side and get the Saints man some valuable game time.

However, Forren, left, is adamant he wants to report back for pre-season training with the rest of his Saints colleagues and fight for a first team place at St Mary’s.

“I am very fond of Molde and hope they do well,” he said. “But right now it’s not an option for me.”

Former Manchester United striker Solskjaer added: “I’ve talked to him about if it could be appropriate but it was not.”

Forren arrived in January but because Norway’s top division had finished its season in November last year, it was agreed at the time of his arrival that he was being signed with a view to next season, rather than the one just finished.

However, Saints have since signed another centre half in the shape of £8.5m man Dejan Lovren, which adds yet more competition to an area that also boasts the likes of Jose Fonte, Maya Yoshida and Jos Hooiveld.

Forren’s representative, Jim Solbakken, has gone on record in the past as being confident his man has a future at St Mary’s.

“When we took Vegard to Southampton it was obviously in the middle of the season (in England) and he came from holiday, so it was agreed he was going to build his fitness towards this summer’s pre-season and upcoming season,” he said.

“It is obviously a huge step for a player coming from Norway to the Premier League and it takes time.

“He is patient, ready and committed to that.

“We knew what was coming and we all agreed.”

The player has already received the endorsement of his fellow countryman and former Saints captain Claus Lundekvam, who said after his signing: “He’s the biggest centre half talent we have had in Norway for quite a while.

“He’s a very modern centre half.

“He’s very good on the ball and he reads the game well.

“He’s strong one-against-one, and he’s a bit like me in that he likes to play – he likes to start the attack and join in.”