Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admits Charlie Austin can leave at the end of this season.

Austin nearly departed in January in a bid to find first team opportunities and Hasenhuttl insists he will not be the one to deny him a chance to play.

He said: “I think it depends how much he wants to play.

“It's a situation that you can maybe handle for a few months or half a year but not for five years because you are not born as a footballer to sit on the bench and not play.

“He is very clear and knows that in the summer he must maybe find another option that he plays more often.

“Like with anybody else if he comes to me and says 'manager it was very nice to help you, it was very nice to be successful with your team, but to be clear I want to play more minutes and that's why I want to leave', I am the last guy to say 'no, because I need you here.'

“We find for every situation a solution and hopefully the best for the team and for him."