SAINTS boss Russell Martin has revealed why the club allowed Romain Perraud to leave on loan and pointed towards youngster Juan Larios as his replacement.

The French full-back made 29 appearances last season in the Premier League as Southampton were relegated to the Championship.

However, game time has been more difficult to come by this season following the summer signing of Ryan Manning.

Perraud only managed to play once under Martin before his departure - starting at centre-back as they crashed out of the EFL Cup against Gillingham.

“I think Romain is an excellent player, but the way we play is probably not suited to him," the Saints manager said reflecting on why Perraud has left to join Nice on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

"He’s going to go somewhere that he really suits because he is a good player.

“People suit different ways of doing things. He really suited the way Southampton played before but not so much now – not that I’m saying he couldn’t do it. But he wants to play.

“I’ve been really impressed with him as a character. Everyone said that before we came, and we’ve now seen it ourselves.

“I wish him nothing but the best of luck and I’m sure he will do really well.”

Perraud's departure leaves Saints with just one natural senior left back at the club in Manning.

They do however also have both Kyle Walker-Peters and Mason Holgate who can also play on the left side of the defence.

When asked if the club were looking to add further depth to that position, Martin pointed towards a signing from last summer as Perraud's replacement.

"I think we have some backup for Ryan Manning already in the building in Juan (Larios).

"I know he’s had injury problems and it’s easy to forget about him, but we shouldn’t because he is a fantastic footballer.

“He’s back training full-time now. He’s tenacious and really technically gifted – we have really good competition there already.

“He’s a natural left-back but he can play both sides. Now he is pushing Ryan really hard and he knows that he is breathing down his neck.

“We need to get Juan some game time between now and the end of the international break.

“I’m not worried about that at all. I think it’s a really good move for Romain and a really good move for us."