SAINTS defenders Michael Svensson and Stephen Crainey should be fit for pre-season training after both underwent successful operations.

Svensson, pictured, who has been forced to miss out on Sweden's Euro 2004 campaign, went under the knife in Stockholm to fix his injured knee while Crainey is recovering from a hernia operation. Both should be fit when the squad report in July.

Physio Jim Joyce said: "I have read the surgeon's report and Michael had a small cartilage tear and some bone bruising in his knee which we knew about already from previous scans.

"He will be starting on his rehabilitation work in the next few days.

"It is always difficult to put a timescale on recovery so soon after an operation of this kind but hopefully Michael will be running in about six weeks' time and then back in full training two weeks later.

"That does mean that he will be slightly behind the rest of the squad in terms of their pre-season preparations but he should still be fully fit for the start of the new campaign."

Of Crainey, he added: "Stephen was struggling with his injury towards the end of the season and so had a double groin repair last Thursday. That seems to have gone well and we expect him to be ready for the start of pre-season."

Anders Svensson has also recovered from a minor hamstring problem that affected him during last Friday's friendly win against Finland.