Saints without Niemi

Southampton keeper Antti Niemi has a knee injury and misses tomorrow’s relegation clash with Crystal Palace at St Mary’s.

Striker Marian Pahars is back in full training for the first time since injuring his ankle in pre-season but is not yet fit enough to play.

Long-term absentees Matt Oakley and Michael Svensson are both still out while Kevin Phillips is battling with teenager Dexter Blackstock to partner James Beattie up front.

Provisional squad: Keller, Dodd, Lundekvam, Kenton, Le Saux, Fernandes, Telfer, Delap, A Svensson, Beattie, Blackstock, Blayney, Nilsson, Phillips, Crouch, McCann, Ormerod, Jakobsson, Prutton, Higginbotham , van Damme.