Redknapp desperate to get Pahars in action

The Latvian striker, who hasn't played a single first team game this season due to a persistent ankle problem, has been back in full training for a month.

But his attempts to prove his fitness have been continually thwarted with FOUR reserve games falling by the wayside during that time due to the weather and youth team commitments.

The latest setback is Monday's reserve team clash with Derby being postponed to allow Saints under-18s to play their FA Youth Cup final first leg at St Mary's.

Harry Redknapp is desperate to get Pahars involved again and is hoping to find some opponents to give the 28-year-old a game on Tuesday.

If he comes through that game, he will be considered available for first team selection for the remaining four games.

Redknapp said: "I've rung every club in the south of England trying to get a game last week for him but I couldn't get anyone to play us.

"I've got to try and get a game for him on Tuesday.

"He can do a job and score goals and he's looking fit and we need to get a game in him.

"For sure he could still figure this season.

"He's come back good, he's up for it, he's strong and he's worked hard in training - if we can get him a game and he gets through that there will be four games to go and he can be a lot of use to us."

Saints fans will hope Pahars can have a similar impact to that when he first arrived for £800,000 from Sknoto Riga in 1999.

Pahars came into the team for the final six matches and scored three goals, including a memorable double against Everton at The Dell, that helped save Saints from relegation.

His return would offer Redknapp another pacy frontman or the possibility of playing him in a wide midfield role.

Redknapp added: "The problem is he needs a game. I want him to have a game and he wants to have a game as well.

"There's nothing like having a game.

"You can do all the training but getting a game is much harder than anything you can throw at him on the training ground."