SAINTS have conceded defeat in their battle to get Jason Dodd fit for the start of the new season - but Chris Marsden has an outside chance of making the opening game at Leeds.

Dodd has still not fully recovered from summer surgery to clean a piece of floating bone out of a knee and is now a non-starter for the curtain-raiser a week on Saturday.

But Marsden, who took a bang on a knee in La Manga, was due to resume full training today and is expected to play for the reserves in tomorrow's friendly at Crawley Town.

If he comes through that, then he should start Saturday's clash against Espanyol with a view to proving his fitness for the game at Elland Road.

Manager Stuart Gray said: "Doddsy has not trained yet so we have got to rule him out for Leeds which is a great shame.

"His knee op has not healed as well as we hoped. There are no complications though, it is just wear and tear.

"Being Doddsy, he tried to get back quickly and just had a reaction and we now have to nurse him back a bit.

"Chris needs a game and hopefully he will get that tomorrow then we will have a clearer idea of how far away he is."

Saints are still waiting to hear whether Oliver Bierhoff wants to join them from AC Milan.

Although the clubs have agreed terms, the German striker is still stalling over salary.

He is believed to be on more than £30,000 a week and is said to be looking for a substantial increase on that.

Saints, though, would surely refuse to break their wage structure even for such a proven performer who, at 33, would have little re-sale value.

They have put together a package similar to the one which lured Mark Hughes to The Dell but they hope the prospect of regular first-team football would sway Bierhoff.

He is keen to finish his career in the Premiership and is desperate to retain the captaincy of his country, but has found himself out of favour at the Serie A club.

Saints have left the ball firmly in his court.

"Although there is no cast-iron deadline, they will clearly want a decision soon so they can look elsewhere if he refuses to drop his demands.

Meanwhile Dean Richards has played a straight bat to the speculation linking him with a move to Spurs.

Although there has been no firm offer for the big centre-back and Glenn Hoddle has denied an interest, Saints fans fear there is no smoke without fire.

Richards said: "I have read all the speculation which is quite flattering in a way although I am happy here.

"But I have heard nothing from Spurs.

"The rumours have been going round for a while but so far nothing has come of them."

Rising Saints starlet Mark Peters could be out of action for eight weeks after fracturing a leg in a youth team friendly at Bristol Rovers.

He said: "It was just a 50-50 challenge with the keeper. I twisted my foot and he followed through but it was not a bad tackle.

"I will be in plaster for at least a fortnight and will then have to work to build the muscles back up once the bone has fully healed.

"It is desperately disappointing."