FRONTMAN Shane Long insists he is ready and raring to go for loan club Cherries – even if sealing the move did interrupt his pudding!

Long was in a hotel on Monday preparing for Saints’ Premier League game at Manchester United the following day, when St Mary’s boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said he was permitted to leave on loan.

The 34-year-old striker revealed how he signed documents just minutes before the deadline to get the switch to Vitality Stadium over the line.

Republic of Ireland international Long’s move was announced at 1am on Tuesday morning.

He told afcbTV: “There was talks for a while but a few things had to happen for me to get the chance to come here.

“I was just about to tuck into some apple crumble when the manager (Ralph Hasenhuttl) called me over and said they were going to get Minamino in from Liverpool on loan, which would obviously limit my playing time more.

“(He said) If I still had the opportunity to go out on loan then I was free to do it.

“I headed up to my room, my agent already knew about it. He knew about Josh King moving as well and different things had to happen.

“It was about 10.58pm, or 10.59pm and I was signing documents to try to get it over the line before the deadline, thankfully I managed to do it.

“I want to play football. I want to show what I can do on the pitch and it’s a good place to come and do that.”

Asked about loaning out the striker, Saints boss Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: “We had a few conversations about his situation and that he was not happy about not playing – it was also understandable.

“He wants to play. It’s the same with Yan Valery – some players, they didn’t play enough. That’s the reason why they tried to find another opportunity.

“Yes, I know that I’m not full of players and it seems stupid that you let them go but I think he (Long) deserved to get this chance because he did so much for this club.

“This is the reason why I finally agreed to let him go and give him a chance to do it.”