Jason Puncheon is backing former Southampton boss Nigel Adkins to become the new Reading manager. "Reading's out there for him I suppose," the Southampton player told Sky Sports News. "His name is getting touted about and I think he can do a job for them.

"Nigel's proved that while he was here [at Southampton] and I think he will get another job and I do wish him all the best when he does get that."

Puncheon believes Southampton decided to dispense with Adkins' services as executive chairman Nicola Cortese has set his sights on turning the club into European contenders.

He said: "Nigel took the club to where it wanted to get to, the Premier League, but the club has ambitions to get European football and that's what we need to do.

"We have got the players to do that, we've got good young players and players getting into their prime and that is what we have to do - take it to the next level."