Matthew Oakley has seen a back specialist in a bid to get himself fit for a second crack at Liverpool on Saturday.

The in-form Saints midfielder limped out of last week's Worthington League Cup win after jarring his back in the first half. The Echo/Courage Player of the Month for September has scored four goals already this season and was missed in the 2-1 defeat at Leicester.

But he hopes his latest treatment will enable him to play in the Premiership match against the Merseysiders at The Dell.

Oakley said: "At a push I could possibly have played at Leicester but I wasn't right and I remember what happened at the start of last season.

"I played on with back pain when I probably shouldn't have done and made it worse. I ended up being out for almost two months.

"In the end I went to see a specialist who manipulated my back and I have been to see him again this week, so hopefully I should be OK for Saturday.

"I am desperate to get back in but if I come back too soon then I will not be doing myself any favours in the long-term.

"It was frustrating to miss the game at Leicester because I had been playing well and I don't want to be out of things because there is so much competition for places now.

"Liverpool will be smarting after their cup defeat here. They really wanted to win it and, although we did not play particularly well, we pulled out a good result."

Saints have a few other injury checks to run ahead of Saturday's game. Hassan Kachloul has a poisoned groin while Jason Dodd is feeling his knee injury again.

Stuart Ripley is also a doubt after being forced off at half-time against Leicester with a groin problem.

Manager Dave Jones said: "It is still too early to tell with any of them. Matthew Oakley has seen a specialist and now we need to see how he goes in training."

Jones is expected to make a decision on Latvian winger Imants Bleidelis some time next week but may try to get him on loan from Skonto Riga.

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