Gregory Vignal is hoping to make a permanent return to English football with Saints.

The former Liverpool, Rangers and Portsmouth left back is currently on trial at Saints and played the second half of last night's 12-0 win over Svarstad.

Vignal could be signed on a loan deal from French club Lens and admits he is desperate for a return to English football.

He said: "When I came here I wanted to show my attitude, and my football, because I love English football.

"I should have stayed here instead of going back to France, because when you play so long for Liverpool or Glasgow or other British teams it's difficult to go back. I think I was born to play English football.

"I want to play in England and for me it would be fantastic for me to be back".

There has been some concern that Vignal has had a lot of clubs but he explained: "I signed a long-term contract with Liverpool so it was difficult for them to sell me.

"So we took the decision each time to go on loan and that's the reason.

"I can understand people's concerns though, because if they don't know the real story they can worry.

"I should have stayed in England instead of going back to France because it's different football there".

Vignal has seen enough to convince him he would like to join Saints if Burley wants him.

And he believes the club can make it back to the Premiership.

"I came on Monday night last week to see everything at Southampton, and since then I've been training hard during the past week and taking a few physical tests.

"Now we've played two games already, so now we will see.

"I'm very happy to be training with Southampton because I think it's a nice club and so I've come here to show what I can do for the team.

"Everything is ready to go back to the Premiership. You've got the stadium, the training ground and the organisation.

"The Championship is a tough league and it'll be difficult to say whether Southampton will be in the top three but if the squad works hard together then who knows.

"Of course it would be fantastic for the city, for everybody, if they go back up because for me the Premier League is the best league in the world".

Svarstad v Saints - four pages of friendly news, views and pictures in today's Daily Echo.