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.