Best set for Saints debut

Teenager Leon Best is in line to make his full debut as Southampton head coach Steve Wigley faces a striker crisis ahead of his side’s match at Everton tomorrow.

Wigley is already without strikers James Beattie, Peter Crouch and Marian Pahars through long-term injuries while Brett Ormerod is loan at Leeds and Kevin Phillips faces a fitness test on a calf strain.

Best could be joined in attack by fellow 18-year-old Dexter Blackstock as Wigley bids for his first win since taking charge from Paul Sturrock in August.

Defender Graeme Le Saux and midfielder Neil McCann must also undergo tests on knee and hamstring problems before being passed fit.

Jason Dodd, Michael Svensson, Matthew Oakley, Yoann Folly and Paul Smith are all still ruled out by long-term injuries.

Provisional squad: Niemi, Nilsson, Lundekvam, Jakobsson, Le Saux, Fernandes, Delap, Prutton, A.Svensson, Phillips, Best, Van Damme, Higginbotham, McCann, Blackstock, Kenton, Blayney.