Southampton boss Claude Puel has spoken of losing fullback signing Jeremy Pied.

Puel has confirmed he will be out for between six and nine months after a knee op.

The defender joined Southampton in August for his third spell with Puel, who has also coached him at Nice and Lyon, but suffered the injury during training last month.

Puel said: "(It is a) big injury, a blow for him and the team.

"He will be important for the squad but that's life and a career of a player. Perhaps he comes back in six months to nine months. We don't know.

"Hopefully he can come back to help us in difficult games."