According to reports in the media Saints have a clause in the loan deal in which Nathan Tella went to Burnley on loan for the season, to be able to recall him in the January window, with goals slow to come this season will they activate it in January.

Nathan Tella looked set to have a promising career at Southampton, but as soon as he got going he seemed to pick up an injury and could never really get a run of games together, in 17 starts and 16 sub appearances in the Premier League he scored just the once.

Saints sent him out on loan to the Championship with Burnley to toughen him up, but more importantly to see if having reached 23 years old he now had the mental strength to play in the Championship.

The answers so far seem positive, in 12 starts for the Turf Moor club plus another off the bench he has hit 6 goals, just 1 behind their top scorer another ex Saint in Jay Rodriquez.

Now Saints have a dilemma, do they recall him in January to bolster the attack, it should be noted that scoring at Championship level is a lot easier than in the premier League, Adam Armstrong has scored just once this season and indeed in his first year notched just twice in the Premier League, but the season before that for Blackburn scored 28 at Championship level, the gulf can be very wide.

But I think it unlikely he will be recalled, the issue Saints need to address is that of a striker rather than a wide man and Saints are well served with options in this department.

But it is good to see Tella prospering and hopefully next season he will return to St Mary's and hopefully show the potential that has been there in sporadic moments but as of yet for Saints in the Premier League not consistent enough.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 15:36 - Oct 24 Glad someone else thought of that. Nathan Tella was unlucky last season when illness / injury limited his game time when some of us were seeing him as" the new Shane Long ". Having been loaned to Burnley - not a bad side despite relegation - he has forced himself into their start side and racked up a few goals and be good enough to keep him there. Most loanees are brought in for managers to cover their own regulars and are glad to get 20 minutes off the bench on an irregular basis. Given the chance Nathan has shown the potential many of us had hoped for and if we can recall him in January it should be a priority not to be overlooked. Allowing Burnley to keep (or sign) him and even help get promotion would be a major error given that his current form would help us even more.

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Fordy added 15:51 - Oct 24 They won't recall him unless there is a huge injury crisis. It would jeopardise any future loan deals. What would be the point of any club taking a Saints player on loan if we recall them if they play well?
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Ali_Diarea added 16:47 - Oct 24 Only bring him home in January if he is going to be a regular starter, otherwise leave him at Burnley to get a full season of regular football under his belt and we’ll reap the rewards next season.
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WestSussexSaint added 17:52 - Oct 24 I would hope our priority in the January window would be to sign a striker that we missed out on in the summer window. If that is not Tella ( and I’m not suggesting it is) then there is no point in the recall to sit on the bench again. Glad he is doing well though.
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