SAINTS manager Russell Martin admitted new signing Charlie Taylor's continued absence from the squad is purely due to tactical reasons.

Taylor, 31, joined the club on a free transfer in the summer after spending seven years with Burnley and six seasons in the Premier League.

But he has made only five appearances for Saints - playing 90 minutes twice before losing his place - and has not featured since the 3-2 home defeat to Leicester.

Some supporters have suggested that Taylor could have been the culprit Martin was calling out for the late Leicester winner, but we understand this is not the case.

Taylor played 45 minutes for the under-21s in October and picked up a niggle but Martin admits his continued absence is not due to fitness reasons. 

He told the Daily Echo: "We've changed shape which probably hasn't helped Charlie and Kyle Walker-Peters has played so well on the left.

"It has been difficult for him but Charlie's a brilliant teammate so it's just another one we have to just try and keep ready for the time that we're going to need him.

"We're going to need everyone and if he doesn't play at all between now and whenever then it'll be another conversation," admitted Martin. 

"But he's trained brilliantly, a brilliant pro, a brilliant person so he'll just be a bit frustrated at the minute that he hasn't played as much as he would have liked."

Taylor penned a two-year deal at St Mary's this summer with the futures of full-backs Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Manning uncertain at the time.