MARK Hughes faces a dilemma over the bloated size of his squad with time running out for Saints to loan out or sell players.

Granted, the season is long and there is certainly a need to have options in all positions to cover for injuries and suspensions.

But, even with those aspects taken into account, Saints have a large squad with a number of players having to come to terms with the prospect of little or no first-team game time.

There are a number of academy graduates in this position, but there’s also Shane Long, who didn’t make the matchday squad in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Burnley.

The Republic of Ireland international made 35 appearances in all competitions last season but the arrival of Danny Ings on transfer deadline day makes him fourth choice striker.

There’s a procession of Staplewood products who join the long queue for spaces, too, namely Sam Gallagher, Harrison Reed, Matt Targett, Josh Sims, Sam McQueen, Jake Hesketh and even James Ward-Prowse.

Newly-promoted Fulham were desperate to bring in Targett during the transfer window, but Saints turned down a reported bid of £15m to keep the 22-year-old.The left-back, however, wasn’t in the squad on Sunday and will have to play second fiddle to England international Ryan Bertrand this term.

Saints wanted to keep a good option at full-back as back-up but, clearly, Targett will be aware that he could have been playing regularly at Fulham this season rather than having to wait his turn at St Mary’s.

Certainly Targett and McQueen, who are both full-back options, stand a better chance than others of getting into the first-team frame.

Striker Gallagher has spent the last two season on loan in the Championship and has had offers to head back to the second tier again this season, with Sheffield United apparently interested.

But he was back, alongside Sims and Hesketh, turning out of the under-23s on Tuesday night, heading in the winning goal against Dynamo Zagreb in an International Cup clash.

At 22 years old, the rangy frontman will be more than aware he needs to push on into first-team football, but he somehow has to get in ahead of Charlie Austin, Manolo Gabbiadini, Ings and Long.

It’s just not going to happen, unless there’s an unprecedented injury crisis and that’s a similar position for Reed, who was on loan at Norwich last season, at centre-midfield.

The 23-year-old has the almost impossible task of getting in the team ahead of Oriol Romeu, Mario Lemina, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Steven Davis, Stuart Armstrong and Ward-Prowse.

It’s no different for Sims and Hesketh in attacking midfield, with all these players now at an age where they need to be playing regularly.

Saints allowed defender Alfie Jones to go on loan to St Mirren yesterday and with Football League and European clubs still able to do business, there’s hope for others to find football elsewhere.