Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough has taken aim at Southampton over their handling of Jake Hesketh.

Hesketh had spent the first half of the season on loan with the League One side before returning to his parent club at the beginning of January.

The 22-year-old then joined MK Dons on loan for the rest of the season, which is a move Clough has questioned.

Albion's manager said: "We said all along that we'd like to keep Jake Hesketh on the same deal.

"Southampton wanted something different and wanted a bit of money for him, and unfortunately for Jake, he has ended up stepping down to League Two.

"I'd have thought that, having had such a good first half of the season in League One, Southampton would've wanted him to at least stay at this level.

"We just thought the benefit that Southampton and Jake were getting from him being with us wasn't worth a little bit of finances that Southampton were asking for.

"When you think they get £150m in the Premier League, a few quid for a young player isn't going to make too much difference for them."