LUKE Shaw's first return to St Mary's has been put on hold - but the Manchester United defender's replacement might well be another face familiar to Saints.

The teams meet in the Premier League at the weekend, with the game set to have marked Shaw's first match back at the stadium since he completed a £27m move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2014.

Yet the gruesome double leg break he suffered in United's 2-1 Champions League loss at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday means he is expected to be out for six months.

Louis van Gaal's team could turn to Marcos Rojo to replace the left-back - with the Argentine international, who came on in Shaw's place at the Philips Stadion, a player Saints considered a move for just over a year ago.

Despite being interested in him and having scouted him, Saints' due diligence suggested a deal would prove an extremely complex one and they did not pursue it too far, instead ending up bringing in Toby Alderweireld to strengthen their back line.

Rojo, who plays centre-back as well as left-back, was ultimately signed from Sporting Lisbon by United, but, even after a £16m deal was agreed between the clubs, they had to wait some time for a work permit to be granted.

The 25-year-old has endured something of a mixed time since moving to Old Trafford and had not played at all this season before coming off the bench on Tuesday.

Van Gaal does have other options at his disposal, with the possibility of moving Daley Blind from the heart of defence to full-back or switching Matteo Darmian from the right side of defence.

There is a strong chance Saints will also be without their own first-choice left-back this weekend, as Ryan Bertrand works his way back to fitness.

The 26-year-old has not played yet this season following knee surgery in the summer, but was due to step up to full training this week.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman indicated last Thursday when he spoke to the media that Bertrand might need some time yet to get back up to full speed, as he had not had a proper pre-season.

Throwing him back in immediately might be seen as too much too soon, and Koeman has the comfort of being able to trust Matt Targett in that position in Bertrand's absence.

But a return should not be too far away even if it does not come this weekend, which is not just good news for Saints, but also England, who will be keen to have a healthy Bertrand with Shaw, who it is hoped will return before next summer's Euros, now out for some time.