​Lincoln boss Appleton claims Southampton interested in Roughan | OneFootball

Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton admits there is interest from Southampton in Sean Roughan.

The 17-year-old has played for the Saints' younger age group teams in recent weeks, as they run the rule over him.

He signed a professional deal with Lincoln last summer, played 11 times for the first team this season, and will be involved in the League One play-offs.

As reported by Lincolnshire Live, boss Appleton said: "It was an opportunity for them to have a look at Sean. They've shown an interest for a while now.

"We were more than happy for that to happen. He's our player until someone makes an offer, it's as simple as that.

"As it stands, at this moment in time, he's a young player and we just want to make sure that he's got the right pathway.

"If that's with us, for me, he has to be playing. At this moment in time he's not doing that.

"I want to improve the team and make it better than what it is at the minute. As he's not in the team at the minute, it's a bit of a balancing act.

"If his pathway is away from Lincoln and it's the right thing for the club, we've had those honest conversations with him.

"At the minute, he's back with us until we get a conversation going with Southampton."