DAN PETRESCU is on course to be ready for the start of the season after coming through his first seniorpre-season friendly.

The Romanian international had feared he might miss the start of the new campaign following summer surgery on a persistent hernia problem.

But he has worked his way back to fitness to boost manager Stuart Gray who could well be without both Chris Marsden and Jason Dodd for the opener at Leeds.

Petrescu played 68 minutes of last night's 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest and has now set his sights on a longer run-out at Bristol City on Saturday.

He said: "I felt fine. I could have played longer but there was no point in taking any risks, especially with another game coming up so soon.

"I hope I can play in that too and then hopefully I will be ready for the start of the season."

Meanwhile Gray has warned his Saints players that they must learn to assert their authority following last night's defeat at the City Ground.

Gray was not unduly concerned by the result which stemmed from two late wicked deflections after Southampton had taken the lead through James Beattie.

He said: "We cannot expect to turn it on and off like a light switch. We have got to make it happen and play the game at our tempo.

"We have to impose ourselves and play at the pace we want - that's when we are at our best. Hopefully we have learned from this game."

A major plus for Gray was Beattie notching his first senior goal of pre-season.

He said: "I got two at Newport and now another, so I am feeling good. There are two more friendlies to get up to full sharpness and then it will be up to the gaffer who he picks at Leeds."

Meanwhile Wayne Bridge is hoping to be named in the England under-21 squad for the friendly against Holland at Reading a week on Tuesday.

New coach David Platt returned to the City Ground last night for the first time since quitting as Forest boss to succeed Howard Wilkinson who overlooked Bridge.

The Saints defender looked strong at the back and lively going forward, and must have impressed Platt who was taunted by sections of the Forest faithful.