SAINTS' forgotten man Jo Tessem is back in contention at St Mary's.

The Norwegian was frozen out under previous boss Paul Sturrock and it looked certain he would return home, where Lyn Oslo had expressed an interest.

But, since Steve Wigley took over first team affairs, Tessem has been told he'll have the chance to prove himself - and he couldn't be happier.

Tessem, 32, said: "Steve Wigley is a good man for us and the hiring of him has put me in a new situation.

"I have been out for quite a long time but now I am back training with the first team."

"I'm already much more involved after been out of the picture for a while.

"But first I need time to get back in match shape - luckily we have got a bit of a break before our next match."

Tessem was a regular in Saints' first team squads under Gordon Strachan in 2002/03, making 11 starts and 24 substitute appearances.

He had a spell partnering James Beattie up front but regularly appeared as a sub due to injuries to Agustin Delgado and Marian Pahars and Strachan's reluctance to give Kevin Davies an extended run. But Tessem only featured in three matches under Strachan and Sturrock last season.

He made just a solitary start - in the 2-0 win against Blackburn at St Mary's in October - and two sub appearances.

The first was against Birmingham in August and the second - his last first team appearance - was in Sturrock's first game in charge, the 2-0 home win over Liverpool in March.

Tessem, who joined Saints for £600,000 from Molde in November 1999 and who has scred 16 goalsin 78 league and cup starts plus 51 as a sub, was so out of favour under Sturrock he didn't even go on the Sweden pre-season tour.

l Saints play their first home reserve match of the season at St Mary's against Tottenham tonight (7pm).

l Ex-Saints defender Garry Monk will serve a one-match ban against Kidderminster this weekend after being sent off for a professional foul during Swansea's 1-0 loss at Yeovil last Saturday.