Delgado eager to grab Saints chance

Agustin Delgado hopes he will get the chance to score his first league goal for Southampton when Arsenal visit St Mary’s tonight to end a 13-month grievance.

Ecuadorian Delgado thought he had scored for Saints in the home win over Arsenal in November last season but it was later credited as an own goal to Arsenal defender Toure.

With that deleted from his records, Delgado, a £3.2m (€4.6m) signing from Necaxa, can point only to a goal at Liverpool in the Worthington Cup from two and a half injury-hit years with Southampton.

Delgado is now fully fit and appeared as a substitute in the St Stephen's Day defeat at Fulham.

Saints manager Gordon Strachan may decide to give the powerfully-built striker a starting chance after his team’s listless display at Fulham.

Strachan also has pacy Latvian striker Marian Pahars fit again after a thigh strain and midfield player Rory Delap has recovered from an ankle injury.

Strachan said: “There are plenty of players to choose from but whoever I decide should play will need to be at his best.

“If we play like we did against Fulham when we meet Arsenal we will be beaten again. We cannot afford to play as badly again.”

Delgado, whose contract expires in the summer, is playing for his Premiership future while Kevin Phillips might be selected ahead of Brett Ormerod after losing his place.

Phillips has managed only one league goal all season, on the opening day at Leicester, and is still looking to justify his £2m (€2.9m) price tag.

Goalkeeper Paul Jones has overcome a virus and returns to the squad but Graeme Le Saux is again ruled out by hamstring trouble.