MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl said Saints would look at how quickly new centre-back Dynel Simeu “develops himself” before mapping out a plan for him.

Simeu was this week pictured training with the club’s first team, having last month joined on a three-year deal following the expiration of his contract at Chelsea.

The Cameroon-born youngster played 90 minutes in Saints’ B team’s 3-0 Premier League 2 defeat to Norwich on Sunday.

Asked last week about the signing of Simeu, Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: “He’s only trained one or two times with us so far, so I haven’t seen him so often.

“I think it was a very good signing for the B team at first and then we have to look how quick he develops himself. Then we can decide.

“If he’s a part of the first team, that doesn’t mean that we don’t bring a centre-back in, in the first team – because we need to.”

Hasenhuttl confirmed Saints were on the hunt for another central defender, following Jannik Vestergaard’s departure to join Leicester last week.