DEFENDER Jack Stephens insisted his full focus was on delivering for Cherries, rather than his future at parent club Saints.

The 28-year-old made the move across the south coast to switch St Mary’s for Vitality Stadium on transfer deadline day last month, agreeing a season-long loan deal.

He has since played just once in the top flight for Cherries and also gained match sharpness by playing in the Premier League Cup last week.

Cornwall-born Stephens has been at Saints for more than a decade, having signed from Plymouth in April 2011 for a reported £150,000.

But he insists any talk of his future is to be saved for a later date.

Asked in an interview with BBC Radio Solent whether we had seen the last of him in a Saints shirt, Stephens replied: “I have been there 11-and-a-half years. It’s a long time to be at a club.

“I have got some really good memories of playing for Southampton, it’s been an absolutely amazing ride.

“Whether it is the last time, I’m not sure. It’s not something I am looking too far ahead with.

“I am here for a season-long loan, what will happen at the end of that – it’s not to be spoken about now.

“It will be all spoken about at the end of the season. For now, I am enjoying being here and it’s big challenges ahead but ones we are looking at facing head on.

“I have still got more than 18 months left on my contract (at Saints), so there’s no need to speak at the moment.

“We will sort things out at the end of the season. For now, it’s nice to focus on football.“

Stephens was also linked with a move to Watford earlier in the summer transfer window.

Quizzed on whether he had other options, the centre-back said: “Over the summer there’s been different things going on but nothing set in stone. I was all set just to be at Southampton for the remainder of the season.

“When Bournemouth came in, it was something I was really interested in and something that I wanted to do.

“Obviously Southampton had brought in a couple of players and towards the back end of last season I found myself not playing too many games.

“Obviously it wasn’t something that was a complete shock to everyone but it wasn’t a scene where they were telling me I had to leave, or I was telling them that I was desperate to leave.

“It was very amicable and when Bournemouth came up, Southampton did everything they could for me and made it as easy as possible.”

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