SAINTS utility player Mikael Nilsson is determined to fight his way back into Harry Redknapp's plans.

But the Swedish international, pictured left, regular has confessed he would jump at the chance of returning to his home country if he can't get regular first-team football at St Mary's.

The 26-year-old last played under Redknapp in the miserable 5-1 thrashing at Tottenham on December 18 when he was taken off at half-time.

Before then, he had been virtually a regular since reclaiming his place at Charlton in September.

He missed the trips to Liverpool and Manchester City through injury and hasn't managed to force his way back in since.

Nilsson, who played for reserves in front of Redknapp last night at Staplewood, was quoted in the Swedish press at the weekend as saying he was keen to leave Saints.

But the player, a £500,000 signing from Halmstads last summer, insisted that was not the case - yet.

"I will get a chance soon and when I get it, I must make the most of it," he said. "I have been here for six months now and have after all been playing quite a lot.

"It is the last month that has been a bit hard."

However, Nilsson, who played in all of Sweden's Euro 2004 matches at right-midfield, right-back and left-back, is wary of losing his place in the national team.

"If I'm left on the bench for a longer period of time then (returning to) Sweden is absolutely an option.

"But what a longer period of time is, I cannot say today.

"It is absolutely not now. I haven't given up."

Fellow Swede Anders Svensson's future at Saints remains unclear.

His agent, Kent Carlzon, was today in England to meet with the player to discuss a move from St Mary's.

Svensson, who is out of contract at the end of this season and hasn't been offered a new one, has interested Swedish pair Elfsborg and IFK Gothenburg.

But Spanish club Espanyol are currently favourites to sign him.

Saints are still being linked with Egyptian striker Mido, who is currently out of favour with Italian club AS Roma.

The player's agent, Christophe Henrotay, refuses to rule out the chance of any loan deal taking place.

Yesterday, when pressed if Saints were still a realistic option for his client, Henrotay would only say: "We will see."