Strike duo ready to return

Kevin Phillips and Peter Crouch could be handed a first-team return by Southampton manager Harry Redknapp for the Barclays Premiership trip to Manchester City.

Redknapp is still looking for his first win after four matches as Saints manager and expects a month of heavy transfer activity when the window opens tomorrow.

The former Portsmouth boss is again expected to leave out James Beattie in anticipation of his transfer to Everton, Aston Villa or Newcastle.

Jason Dodd and Mikael Nilsson are fit but Graeme le Saux is again ruled out by a hamstring injury.