SAINTS' impressive start to the season means Dave Jones is not rushing to put out the Welcome Matt.

Matthew Le Tissier has been plagued since pre-season by an Achilles injury which has forced him to miss the last two games. He had hoped to play in today's closed door friend-ly against the Australian Olympic X1 but he now looks likely to have to rest it for at least another week.

In previous years that would have been a hammer blow to Saints but the increased competition for places and the almost unprecedented early nine-point 'cushion' means Jones does not have to take chances with his injured star.

He said: "We want him back to his best as soon as possible but the good thing is we don't have to rush him. For years the team rarely won if he was not playing but now we have proved we can win even if he is not there.

"The players we are bringing in give us different options and they now know they can win without him, which is important.

"Matt has been an Icon at this club for a long, long time but we know if we do not have him through injury that we can mix it up and do something different.

"He carried this club for many seasons which is a big burden to have and hopefully we can relieve him of that.

"Obviously we want him back because he has tremendous ability and makes things happen for us but at least we are not under pressure to rush him. We can make absolutely sure the injury is right rather than play him and risk it going again.

"We are probably looking at the end of next week for him to start training fully and then he will need a couple of reserve games under his belt.

"When we have got a squad of players, what is the point of killing him It is best to get him right then he can fight for his place - and he is up for that!"

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