Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has explained why he's allowed defender Ian Pearce to join Southampton.

"Ian Pearce has done very well and is a player I like very much," explained Hodgson to fulhamfc.com. "He's been fully fit for about three weeks and took part in all our Reserve Team games. Even on occasions when I said, 'you don't need to play if you don't want to,' he actually volunteered to play because he wanted to play.

"When we got an offer that he good could go to a good quality Championship side and play for them we thought that was a risk worth taking. Whilst he's there I can't use him but I think the level of match play he will get there will stand him in very good stead when he comes back.

"I made it clear to him that I was happy for him to stay but if he thought that this month would push him forward and closer to the First Team then I'll take the risk. He was happy to go so I accepted it."