Claude Puel insists he is under 'no obligation' to play big-money short-term signing Martin Caceres.
Saints signed free agent Caceres to plug the defensive gap left by Jose Fonte's January move to West Ham and Virgil Van Dijk's ankle injury.
The 29-year-old is yet to feature though, and could even turn out for the under-23s on Monday rather than face Watford on Saturday.
Caceres has signed a bumper contract until the end of the season but Saints manager Puel remains adamant the ex-Juventus centre back must earn his first-team chance.