BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted Saints would not be in the market for a striker during the January transfer window – and vowed to work with the current options at his disposal.

Saints have scored in all but four of their 13 league games to date this season, but registered more than once on only two occasions.

Only struggling Norwich having managed fewer than their total of 11 goals this campaign.

However, the Austrian admitted he would not have the funds to address that situation during the winter transfer window, when prices are notoriously high.

Hasenhuttl will instead work on the potential he already has within his squad.

Asked whether he would look to freshen up his group with a striker in January, Hasenhuttl replied: “No. For sure not because when you can guarantee me a striker that scores 24 or 25 goals in the Premier League, that costs around I don’t know…

“I don’t think there are some goalscorers around available for us that guarantee us 24 or 25 goals in the Premier League.”

Asked if he simply could not afford that kind of player, he added: “Not really, I think.

“We are working on ours and bringing them to the level that they can help us. I think this is a better way.”

Saints have rotated the likes of Adam Armstrong, Armando Broja and Che Adams this season.

Nathan Redmond and Nathan Tella could also play up front, with Shane Long making just one appearance in the top flight.

“We haven’t had that many games where we didn’t score goals this season, we had so far two or three,” said the Saints boss.

“But in the end, yes, we haven’t scored that many this season. We had definitely more chances to do it.

“This is something that is not so surprising because we have a few players up front, they are in their first year in the Premier League now.

“With Adam Armstrong, with Broja – they need a little bit of time to adapt to the league I think – this is also normal.

“A lot of potential we have there up front and we have to put the potential to excellence, this is the goal.”

Saints take on Leicester City in the Premier League on Wednesday, looking to end a run of two straight defeats.