SAINTS manager Russell Martin looked to ease pressure on new signing Ross Stewart, admitting he probably will not start a fixture this week.

The St Mary's side host Bristol City and Cardiff City on Wednesday and Saturday respectively, looking to go 10 and 11 games unbeaten in the Championship. 

Supporters have only caught a glimpse of deadline day striker signing Stewart, who cost the club upwards of £10million from league rivals Sunderland.

The 27 year old made substitute appearances in the final 10 minutes versus both West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield Town before and after the international break.

Martin, however, insisted it will still take time before the Scotland international is ready to make his first start for his new club.

Speaking after Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Terriers, Martin said: "It's really difficult to put a timeframe on it, we have to keep building him up.

"We need to keep giving him what he needs and he still has to be managed in training in terms of the load for him.

"It's such a big change for him and it's happened so quickly so I think he needs to get on the pitch. He has one of the Championship's top scorers to try and displace.

"We can definitely get all three of Ross, Adam Armstrong and Che Adams on the pitch, as we did towards the end of the game on Saturday."

Martin continued: "He knows it's a really good challenge for him, he's training brilliantly and we just need to be patient with him. 

"Do I see him starting a game in the next week or two? Probably not. But as he builds up over time, the closer he gets. The more minutes he gets on the pitch, the better." 

Stewart scored on his return to football following surgery on an Achilles injury during 45 minutes for Southampton's under-21s last month. 

The six-foot two-inch forward hit 10 goals in just 13 Championship matches for the Black Cats last campaign, having previously fired them to promotion out of League One.