Premiership: Race against time for Petrescu

Romanian international Dan Petrescu is facing a battle to recover from injury in time for Southampton’s game at Aston Villa tomorrow.

Petrescu missed training in the second part of this week with a groin strain and will undergo a fitness test before kick off.

Striker Marian Pahars is back in contention for a place after recovering from a back problem while midfielder Chris Marsden is expected to figure after missing last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea with a thigh injury.

Team (from): Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Richards, Bridge, Tessem, Oakley, Draper, Kachloul, Pahars, Beattie, Davies, Le Tissier, Rosler, Petrescu, El Khalej, Benali, Moss.