Andy Morrison in a 1–1 draw with Liverpool in the league. He played 11 games for City, scoring once in a 4–2 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup. Despite his successful time with United, Kanchelskis says the clubs' supporters regularly remind him he played 11 matches for their arch-rivals. Upon his return to Rangers, he said he was happy to be back and vowed to give his all for the team, but having received little game time and falling behind Russell Latapy in the pecking order, began to consider his future. After his release from Rangers upon the expiration of his contract, he went on trial with Southampton; manager Gordon Strachan said that Kanchelskis had personally phoned him to ask for permission to train with the club. After a successful trial, Kanchelskis signed with Southampton on 30 August, with a contract lasting until the end of the season. Strachan described Kanchelskis as "just too good a player not to have a club", and said Saints players were "learning a lot from him". He made his debut against former club Everton, coming on as a second-half substitution in an eventual 1–0 win. After making only one more appearance, Southampton released him early from his contract in February 2003, and he joined Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal, signing a four-month contract, after rejecting the possibility to move to Sheffield Wednesday on loan. During his time with Southampton, Kanchelskis wore the number 7 shirt previously worn by club legend Matt Le Tissier, and said during a 2021 interview with The Athletic that while he didn't have a problem wearing the number on his shirt, that it was a "bad decision" due to his lack of success at the club. Later career, and retirement His time with Al-Hilal was blighted by a hamstring injury, and he said that though his teammates were skilled, they lacked enthusiasm and passion in matches and training. Kanchelskis played his final game for the club in May 2003, and in July he began training back in England with Brighton & Hove Albion, a club close to his home in Sussex. He would later reveal he decided to leave Saudi Arabia due to the Riyadh compound bombings. With offers from teams in Japan and the possibility of a return to Al-Hilal, Brighton manager Steve Coppell began talks with Kanchelskis to sign for the club, and after a month of