Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino insists Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is in his plans.

The Danish midfielder has been excluded from the squad in every game so far this season.

"In the beginning of the Premier League Pierre was outside of the team because we have got a lot of players there," he said.

"But Pierre is a player that is always ready and you never know in professional football when your opportunity will arise and in this moment you have to be ready.

"But not just in the case of Pierre, there are a lot of players out there waiting because we have 23,24,25 players.

"We can use only 11 every week, but in the top level the good thing is when you get an opportunity in ten minutes you can change your future, your life.

"Pierre is still young and he's a player who I think will be important in the squad."