MANAGER Russell Martin suggested Saints will bring "some people in to help" their relegation battle in the upcoming January transfer window.

Clubs in England can sign new players from January 1 2025 and have up until 11pm on Monday, February 3, to finalise their winter business. 

Saints currently sit bottom of the Premier League table with just five points from 14 matches and could do with an influx of quality.

However, their squad is already 32 players large when everybody is back fit and in contention, which Martin admits is a problem.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Aston Villa, Martin said: "We're in communication all the time. I think we also have to appreciate and respect the squad is too big.

"There'll have to be a few people that leave whether that be on loan or some maybe permanently too. We also have a couple of players out on loan.

"They are doing really well as well so that is to consider. There'll be some changes and there'll be some people in to help us.

"There'll be some people leave. I'm not sure how that looks right now because January, in my experience of it as a manager, I don't enjoy it very much.

"It can be quite chaotic so we're trying to keep calm and be as organised as we possibly can and ready as we possibly can.

"We know what we want to improve and how we want to improve it but then after that so much needs to happen for that."

Saints have already been linked to interest in a holding midfielder and a winger with the futures of loanees Lesley Ugochukwu and Maxwel Cornet uncertain.

Martin admitted Saints could recall Shea Charles from his loan at Sheffield Wednesday with the Northern Ireland international impressing.