PAUL JONES looks likely to keep his place in goal for tomorrow's match with Bolton after Antti Niemi only returned to training yesterday.

A minor groin injury forced the Finn off at half-time in the Carling Cup win at Bristol City and ruled him out of the 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City.

Matthew Oakley sees a specialist next week and is hoping to get the okay to return to training.

The midfielder has been missing since twisting knee ligaments in the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough last month.

He said: "It has been a frustrating time but it feels good and hopefully I will be able to step it up next week. That will give me a good indication of how well it has healed and whether rest has done the trick.

"The ligaments seem to have been stretched rather than torn so, with luck, I should be back soon."

Marian Pahars has been called into the Latvian squad for next week's Euro 2004 play-off against Turkey despite being sidelined with a groin injury.

The striker has been out of first-team action for almost a year and Saints will not want to see the player thrown in for a crucial international before he is fully fit.

Ecuador international Agustin Delgado, meanwhile, is currently on the mend following major back surgery at the start of the season.

He is rehabilitating well and hopes to be back training with the reserves in around ten days.