MX23RW : Monday, November 25 04:36:28| >> :120:36386:36386:

Matt Le Tissier demands Southampton striker

Former Southampton captain Matt Le Tissier says that the Saints' Champions League ambitions could hinge on bolstering their striking options on deadline day.

Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has urged Ronald Koeman to bolster his striking options on deadline day to boost their prospects of a top-four finish.

With Shane Long ruled out for six weeks with a punctured lung, and Graziano Pelle failing to find the net in any of his last six Premier League games, Le Tissier feels that the Dutchman is in dire need of an alternative striker.

The Saints, who sit fourth in the table, went down 1-0 to Swansea City on Sunday, and the 46-year-old believes that Champions League qualification could hinge on Koeman's activity today.

"I would imagine he [Koeman] will probably be looking to strengthen in the centre-forward department," he told Sky Sports News. "At the moment we've been very fortunate that he's not had any injuries this season, but we were looking a little bit light in the back-up department.

"Sam Gallagher has been out injured for a long time and Shane Long is going to be out for a long time as well. I think that department needs to be strengthened a little bit.

"Koeman's transfers have all been pretty good, so hopefully he can continue that. If we get at least one in, it will give the team a little bit of a boost because [the Swansea defeat] was a disappointment today, there's no question about that. "

On Sunday, Koeman did reveal that he was in the market for "at least one player" on deadline day.

ID:202866: cacheID:202866:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2951:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Shane Long in action for Southampton on December 26, 2014
Read Next:
Long to miss six weeks with punctured lung
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!