Gordon Strachan says he's 'delighted' Kevin Davies has rediscovered his scoring touch at Bolton - despite releasing him in the summer.

Davies, who left for nothing at the end of last season once his Saints contract expired, will be hoping to prove a point when he comes head-to-head with his former teammates for the first time since his departure.

The 26-year-old is currently Bolton's second highest scorer this season having hit the net three times and once cost Blackburn £7.5m when they bought him from Saints during his first spell at the club.

Davies, who later returned in exchange for Egil Ostenstad, struggled to make an impact on the first team last season, scoring twice from the bench - including the vital last-minute equaliser against Millwall which kept Saints in the FA Cup.

Strachan said: "We are del-ighted Kevin is doing well. He deserves a wee break.

"He's had a rough couple of years and it's lovely to see him doing well."

Saints go into tomorrow's match hoping to make up for their indifferent display in the 2-0 St Mary's defeat against Man City last week.

But Davies' former teammate Rory Delap knows that won't be easy with the ex-Saints star in the opposition line-up.

"It will be nice to meet up with him as long as we get the three points," said the Irishman.

"He didn't get a run in the side when he was here but I think he's a great player on his day and it will be tough for the lads to play against him.

"It's happened to a few players that they need a change of scenery and Kevin had a tough couple of years with his move to Blackburn and then coming back and being in the side and then left out for a year but it shows he's knuckled down.

"He didn't have a club when he left here and went to a couple of clubs and proved he wants to play football.

"If you're not playing you're going to be upset and for the amount of time he was not in the team you start losing heart but credit to him because he's back in the Premier League again.

"We wouldn't have got to the FA Cup final if it wasn't for his goal against Millwall and he was popular with the lads.

"It will be nice to see him again but hopefully he'll be upset after the result!"