FORMER Saints striker Gordon Watson believes the club need to make up to three signings in the January transfer window.

Saints chairman Ralph Krueger revealed that the club ‘does not plan to be active in January’ in the wake of Les Reed’s departure.

But Watson is adamant additions are needed.

He said: “I know the chairman keeps saying there are no plans to purchase but it’s going to be a horrible season unless we do something about it.

“I don’t think they’ll go down, they’re a little too streetwise for some of the other teams.

“But what we’re watching is not good enough and we’ve got a chance to do something in the January transfer window.”

Watson would like to see three additions to strengthen the spine of the team.

“We haven’t replaced [Graziano] Pelle and got away with that last year,” he said.

“The recruitment recently has been shocking. Guido Carillo for £19m?! Who’s kidding who?

Shane Long, Danny Ings and Charlie Austin are like three peas in a pod, just at different stages of their careers.

“Then you’ve got [Manolo] Gabbiadini. Who’s going to lead the line out of those four?

“I would have let Long go to a Championship club in the summer and Austin is not going to give you 90 minutes over 30 games.

“We need a striker who’s going to have a presence. It’s frustrating.

“What about Sam Gallagher? Give him a chance, you’re not going to know if he’s good enough till you do.

“If the management team doesn’t think he’s good enough they must let him go elsewhere.

“But I’d have Gallagher ahead of [MIchael] Obafemi because we need someone to lead the line.”

Saints were linked with Everton winger Ademola Lookman in the summer.

The 21 year-old, a £10m buy from Charlton in January 2017, has only made one start this season - against Saints in the Carabao Cup.

“I thought we should have gone for Lookman or someone like that with pace to get fans on the edge of their seat and create chances,” continued Watson.

“People say we’re creating chances but no, they’re not proper chances.

“I just don’t think Mark Hughes knows his best team and I don’t think we’ve got the right players.

“The blend isn’t right, we’ve got too many doing the same job. In [James] Ward-Prowse, [Mario] Lemina and [Pierre-Emile] Hojbjerg he’s got three holding midfielders.

“We also need a leader at the back because. Our leader at the back is Yoshida, who’s perfect in a three but I’m not so sure in a two.”