Everton defender Mason Holgate is not enjoying his loan spell at Southampton this season.

The defender was hoping to play a lot more often for the Championship club than he has managed.

Saints boss Russell Martin spoke about Holgate, who has only 3 starts this season.

He told Daily Echo, amid speculation of Holgate's loan being cut short: "Yesterday (on Friday)? No, he was training with us.

"Other than that, I don't know. He trained with us so that is all the clarity you need.

"If he got to the hotel with us and managed to find his way his way to Sheffield and back in time he has done very well.

"No. He was here with us, he was in the squad. He is probably pretty annoyed he has not played as much as he has.

"But he is a great character, really good with the group, vocal in the right way, and has a lot of fun.

"There is a week or whatever there is left of silly season. We will see where he is after that."