Saints have begun moves to organise a work permit for Latvian winger Imants Bleidelis before they decide whether to sign him.

Manager Dave Jones is keen to avoid a repetition of last season's farce which saw the Department of Employment twice refuse a permit for Marian Pahars on the grounds that he wasn't good enough!

It was granted at the third time of asking and Pahars has swiftly established himself as one of the top strikers in the Premiership.

That should add weight to the case to get a permit for Bleidelis who appears to fulfill all the criteria having been a regular in the national side for the past two years.

But Saints are taking no chances and are compiling a mountain of evidence in case they decide to sign him from Skonto Riga.

Jones is keen on the winger but has little cash available. He also wants to strengthen the defence so he will try to sign Bleidelis on loan, at least for the time being.

He said: "We will be making a decision on him soon but in the meantime we are getting all the documentation together to test the water with the DoE.

"After Marian's success here I would hope this application would be easier but at the moment we are trying to get him on loan in the same way that Middlesbrough have taken Juninho.

"I like what I have seen of him in training. He is quick and has good skill but we need to decide where our priorities are."

Meanwhile Saints have agreed a fee of £250,000 with Brentford for centre-back Scott Marshall who has been unable to command a regular Premiership place at The Dell since his Bosman free transfer from Arsenal 15 months ago.

Jones said: "He wanted first-team football and I could not guarantee him that. We have agreed a fee and it is now down to whether he can sort out personal terms.

"We signed him for nothing on a Bosman so we have got back our outlay on wages plus a bit more so it is a good deal for us."

Saints reserves tonight take on Crystal Palace at Staplewood (7.30) with Kevin Davies getting his last run-out before beginning a three-match ban for his red card at Leicester.

With the break for international games, his suspension will last almost a month making tonight's game important for match fitness.

But Patrick Colleter and James Beattie have been left out to ensure they are fit if needed for Saturday's Premiership fixture at Wimbledon.

Saints ResERVES: Bevan, Hiley, Almeida, Dryden, Bridge, Sims, Howells, Gibbens, Ashford, Rodrigues, Davies. Subs: to be named.

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