Bridge boost for Saints

England defender Wayne Bridge is hopeful of overcoming an ankle injury to keep his place against Manchester United as Southampton bid for their fourth successive victory.

Bridge suffered the injury in last weekend’s 4-2 win against Fulham and will undergo a fitness test shortly before kick-off.

Ireland midfielder Rory Delap and striker Marian Pahars have recovered from illness but are likely to have to settle for places on the substitutes’ bench while winger Andrei Kanchelskis could face his former club.

Southampton provisional squad: Niemi, Dodd, Lundekvam, M Svensson, Bridge, Fernandes, Oakley, A Svensson, Marsden, Beattie, Ormerod, Pahars, Telfer, Delgado, El Khalej, Delap, Williams, Kanchelskis, Hall, Jones.