Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has played down the club’s move for Celtic striker Gary Hooper as the side look ahead to their clash with Leicester City on Monday (Southampton 5/6, draw 13/5, Leicester 16/5).

The Saints manager had Hooper under his wing while the pair were at Scunthorpe United and the tactician was keen to see the 23-year-old goalscorer at St Mary’s this season.

However, the Old Firm giants are adamant that Hooper will be staying north of the border and Adkins has admitted he will have to look elsewhere if he wants to boost his attacking options with Southampton.

He said: “Celtic say they don’t want to sell him. So that’s it, end of story.

“I know Gary and I’m delighted he’s doing so well. He’s a top-class striker, but we have other good strikers here, so we move on.”

Southampton (9/4 Championship outright) are pushing for a place back in the Premier League this season and are sitting in the automatic promotion places ahead of their clash with Leicester on  Monday.

The Saints were on the end of a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Foxes in their encounter earlier in the campaign and will be looking for a better result in front of their home fans on the south coast.