Southampton’s injury-plagued striker Agustin Delgado has returned to Ecuador and and joined Aucus on loan for the rest of the season.

Southampton said the club hope the player will re-discover his form and fitness at the Quito-based club and be ready to return to Southampton in the summer.

Delgado joined Southampton for £3.25m in November 2001, but has only made 15 appearances in that time, scoring two goals.