Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has praised goalkeeper Fraser Forster for his excellent performances with Celtic but he has no intention of recalling him to St Mary's.

Forster went on-loan to his old club in Glasgow at the start of the season and already he has helped them win the Scottish League Cup with an eye-catching performance in the final against Rangers last Sunday.

Hasenhuttl has insisted that he never doubted the England international's quality.

"At first, I am very happy that after the long time that he didn't get the chance to play," said Hasenhuttl.

"He's a fantastic goalkeeper, I always knew, but for him it was important to get the chance to play and to get the games and his self-confidence back.

"I am very happy for him."

The Saints boss opted for Alex McCarthy and Angus Gunn as his first and second choice netminders when he took over in 2018 with the latter eventually becoming the number one.

Forster's only Premier League appearance under the Austrian was in a 3-0 loss to West Ham last May but his improved performances with the Scottish champions won't prompt Hasenhuttl to recall him before the loan deal expires at the end of the season.

"At the moment, we don't think about that," said Hasenhuttl. "We have our three goalkeepers here and he's on-loan until the end of the season. It's not the moment to think about that.

"When you have four goalkeepers in your squad and every goalkeeper played and every goalkeeper had the chance to show up so maybe he didn't have the most chances but he also played one.

"It was a difficult year for him. Without playing it is always difficult. In the league he is playing now, he is doing fantastic. He is a good goalkeeper.

"I am very happy because that is exactly what we wanted to give him, give him a chance to play again, to [rediscover] his self-confidence.

"This is good for everybody, for us and for him."