Newcastle United striker Chris Wood could be an ideal play for the Southampton hierarchy to target in the January transfer window, although any such move may well depend on the future of Ralph Hasenhuttl at St Mary's, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

THE LOWDOWN: FOCAL POINT NEEDED

Having averaged 3.6 shots on target per match, it is no wonder as to why the Saints find themselves as the league's joint-fifth lowest scorers, having found the net just 11 times so far.

Whilst their big chances created total of 16 is respectable, their 10 big chances missed is a metric which highlights just one of the issues among the squad this season. If they are not careful, this could be a theme which comes back to haunt them in the latter stages of the campaign.

One possible remedy to this lack of potency up top may be Wood, who will reportedly be made available for other clubs to sign in January.

THE LATEST: WOOD COULD "FIT THE BILL" FOR SOUTHAMPTON

Jones has suggested that the £25m Newcastle marksman, who is barely getting a look-in at St James' Park, could provide a solution to the Saints' lack of threat in front of goal this season.

However, with Hasenhuttl's job seemingly under pressure of late, any such move may be dependent on whether the Austrian is still Southampton manager by the time the January transfer window opens.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said: “I guess it will depend on the type of manager they end up getting in if Hasenhuttl does go. But there's no doubt that this team lack goal threat and Chris Wood might fit the bill.”

THE VERDICT: HE'D BE AN IDEAL TARGET

A change of dimension in attack is most certainly what Hasenhuttl's Southampton need. Their current options are pacey, floating strikers who would be greatly complimented by the presence of an old-school number nine with physicality and a certain gravitational pull on defenders.

Wood proved himself to be prolific threat who lived off a relative scarcity of chances under the tutelage of Sean Dyche at Burnley, yet he still managed to hit double figures in the Premier League for four consecutive seasons at Turf Moor.

Therefore, as Jones has hinted, the New Zealand striker could be an ideal target for the Saints, especially if he is still struggling for game-time at Newcastle by January.