CHRIS MARSDEN hopes to be fit for Saturday's trip to Charlton despite hobbling off after just three minutes of Saturday's 2-0 win over Derby.

Initially it was thought that the midfielder had damaged the calf which had forced him to miss the last two Saints matches.

But he revealed after the game that the injury was nothing worse than a twisted ankle, and he simply did not want to aggravate the injury by soldiering on.

Marsden, who had the day off with the rest of the squad yesterday, said: "There was no point trying to play on because I could not move so I just came straight off.

"I hope I will be okay for Saturday - but I will have to see how it settles.

"I will be bitterly disappointed if don't make it, especially after just getting back from a two-match absence with the calf problem."

Defender Claus Lundekvam missed the match with a thigh injury to sit out only his third Premiership match of the season and giving Tahar El Khalej a rare start in the back four.

The Norwegian said he felt uncomfortable with the injury at Black-burn on Easter Monday and was unable to train properly in the build-up to the game.

He said: "I hope to be okay for the game at Charlton.

"I could feel it at Blackburn but played on and I couldn't train all week.

"I had a test before the game but it was no good.

"I got up to half pace but no more, so there was no way I could play.

"It was very disappointing but I did not want to play and risk tearing it and being out for the rest of the season."

Skipper Jason Dodd revealed afterwards that, even though he wasn't playing, the Norwegian was a tremendous presence in the dres-sing room.

"Claus was in there wearing his dodgy gear - he looked like Bruce Lee's sidekick," joked Dodd.

"He was getting a bit of stick, but even though he was injured and disappointed not to be playing, Claus was in the dressing-room saying 'Cmon boys, let's get a result'.

"That's what the team spirit is all about at this club - all the lads are sticking together and enjoying themselves."

James Beattie played a full 90 minutes and enjoyed his first start since the Manchester United game on January 13, when he dislocated his ankle to prompt a long spell out of the first team.

His outing did not come without any cost - he needed three stitches to a head wound sustained after a first-half clash of heads with Derby County defender Chris Riggott.