Jo Tessem is aiming to prove his fitness for Saturday's daunting trip to Old Trafford by coming through a reserve team friendly at Fulham today.

The Saints midfielder has not played for a month since hurting a foot in the 1-0 victory at Bradford, his team's last Premiership victory.

His driving runs from midfield have been sorely missed while the troublesome injury has persisted, also costing him his first international cap for Norway.

He almost made Monday's home defeat by Manchester City but, after so long out, he was not considered quite match-fit enough.

However, if he comes through today's make-or-break run-out then he will go straight back into the squad for the clash at Manchester United.

He said: "I was nearly right but not quite. I told the manager I was 85 per cent fit on Monday and it was obviously up to him whether to play me.

"It was very frustrating watching from the stand and seeing things going wrong and not being able to do anything about it.

"City looked nervous early on but we did not capitalise and they really won the game in midfield. I would have liked to have been out there but hopefully I will be back on Saturday."

Saints have also missed centre-back Dean Richards who has been out for three weeks with an ankle injury. He is back running now but may still be just short of full fitness for Saturday.

Matthew Le Tissier will be out for between two and three weeks after tweaking knee ligaments against City while Matthew Oakley has an outside chance of facing United if his bruised calf eases.

Tessem and Francis Benali are the only senior squad regulars included in a young reserve side at Fulham. Benali is now fully recovered and ready to fight his way back into Premiership contention.

He said: "There are no problems with the leg and I have regained my match fitness so hopefully I can now push on back into the first-team squad."

Saints Res: Bevan, Graham, Monk, Gray, Benali, Bleidelis, Tessem, Gibbens, M Davies, Tano, Caceres. Subs: Blayney, Grimshaw, McDonald, Gordon, Howard.

*Saints full-back Patrick Colleter could be heading back to France. He has joined Cannes on a week's trial with a view to a permanent move.

Colleter is unlikely to play for Southampton again following his recent outburst accusing Hoddle of freezing him out and not giving him a chance at The Dell.