Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that Fernando Torres's form has been affected due to his unhappiness at Chelsea.

The Spain international, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool for £50m in January 2011, has only managed to find the net seven times in the Premier League this season.

"I remember him being a quality player, full of strength and a player who knew which spaces to run into to create chances," the Daily Star quotes Pochettino as saying. "Sometimes it happens where a player is comfortable and feels happy at a certain club as he was at Atletico and at Liverpool.

"But when you leave that club and join a new team maybe you do not feel as comfortable and as happy and that can affect your performances. I do not know if Torres will leave Chelsea but what is clear is there is no doubting his quality."

Pochettino will lead his Saints side into a league encounter against the Blues at St Mary's tomorrow.