Jos Hooiveld’s Saints career has effectively come to an end after he was loaned to Norwich for the rest of the season.

The 31-year-old Dutch centre half is out of contract next summer and is well down the pecking order at St Mary’s.

Hooiveld joined Saints on transfer deadline day in August 2011, a £1.8m signing from Celtic.

He went on to form a central defensive partnership with Jose Fonte that helped earn Saints promotion from the Championship to the Premier League in his first season at the club.

Hooiveld was given a chance in the top flight but became quickly more of a bit part player, progressively sliding down the pecking order.

With the club signing two centre halves in the transfer window in Florin Grados and Toby Alderweireld to replace just Dejan Lovren, Hooiveld was not likely to get another first team chance with Maya Yoshida also preferred.

When the opportunity of a loan move to Norwich came up it was decided to be in the best interests of all parties if Hooiveld dropped down to the Championship to stake a claim for a long term future with the Canaries.

During his time at Saints, Hooiveld amassed 74 starts and three sub appearances, scoring nine goals.

Saints are still expected to make some big announcements this evening. Stay with our blog for all the latest goings on at St Mary's