#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl insists Saints will ‘find a solution’ for frontman #ShaneLong #SAINTSFC

BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl insists Saints will “find a solution” for frontman Shane Long when he returns from his loan spell at AFC Bournemouth. The Republic of Ireland international is currently helping Cherries in their bid to return to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. Long was an unused substitute for Jonathan Woodgate’s men in their 1-0 first-leg victory over Brentford at Vitality Stadium on Monday. He was loaned to the Dorset outfit in February at the 11th hour of the transfer window, almost simultaneously with the addition of Takumi Minamino from Liverpool to Saints. Striker Long signed a two-year contract extension at St Mary’s last summer. Asked whether he felt Long could come back and make an impact at the club next season, Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: “We will discuss every player when they are coming back and then we know what we need to do next season – what is the goal, how we want to play and what players are fitting then to our shape, what we want to do. “This all has influence on the decision we take. “Longy had done a good job for this club for a long time and we will find a solution, definitely. “Either he stays here or when he has another option, we will have a look for this. This is how we will handle every player.” Long has played 11 times in the Championship for Cherries, scoring in games against Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City. The Tipperary-born frontman has started four times for Woodgate’s side – and recently had a spell out with a groin problem. Asked what he had made of the striker’s loan spell and game time so far, Hasenhuttl said: “I think it could have been more. “He was also injured I think one time and, overall, you have to say all our loan players didn’t get the game time they expected to get. “You can always speculate why this happens. We don’t know it 100 per cent but we only see the fact that they are not playing enough. “Mario Lemina played a little bit more at Fulham but also relegating with the team. “Finally, we have a few others in other leagues not so much playing – not a lot of players get the chance to play there.” Long could be involved when Cherries make the trip to Brentford for the second leg on Saturday.