Premiership: Pahars fitness battle to face United

Leading scorer Marian Pahars is facing a race against time to be fit for Southampton’s game at Barclaycard Premiership champions Manchester United.

Pahars will undergo a late fitness test as he battles to recover from a neck injury which prevented him from training earlier in the week.

Midfielder Matthew Oakley is a doubt with an ankle injury while captain Jason Dodd is struggling to overcome the effects of a ’flu virus.

Ecuadorian striker Agustin Delgado is out following a knee operation while midfielder Mark Draper is sidelined until March after a similar operation.

Team (from): Jones, Dodd, Williams, Lundekvam, Bridge, Telfer, Oakley, Svensson, Marsden, Pahars, Beattie, Ormerod, Davies, Delap, Le Tissier, Benali, Chala, Tessem, Moss.