SAINTS Player-of-the-Year James Beattie has been ruled out of the England Under-21 squad to face Sweden and Bulgaria.

The bustling striker goes into hospital on Thursday to have surgery on the hernia which has plagued him for the last five months of the season.

Beattie will sit out the European Championship qualifier against Sweden at Huddersfield a week on Friday and the trip to Sofia a fortnight today.

But he expects to be fully recovered when the players report back for pre-season training on July 1.

He said: "Of course it is disappointing to miss the England games but my priority has to be to get fit for the start of next season.

"It has been very painful and there have been some weeks when I have not been able to train at all. I have just had to rest it.

"It has been a great sea-son for me and hopefully the next one can be even better if I can get myself right. I'm not even sure if I will get a holiday because I just want to concentrate on getting myself fully fit."

Runner-up to Beattie in the Player-of-the-Year poll was Ken Monkou who has been offered a one-year contract by Saints but the 34-year-old Dutch defender wants a two-year deal.

Chairman Rupert Lowe said: "We would like him to stay and have made him a very good and fair offer. Now the ball is in his court.

"His aspirations are somewhat surprising but we have done our best to get near to what he wants. He is a free agent so it is up to him whether he wants to take it or try and get more elsewhere."

Manager Dave Jones has denied reports that he is set to sign Nantes centre-back Eric Decroix as a replacement for Monkou. He said: "There is nothing in it. I don't know where these stories come from. I'm also supposed to be in for Martin Dahlin but that is nonsense as well."

Meanwhile Saints and Middlesbrough are reported to have checked out Tenerife's Dutch international striker Roy Makaay in Sunday's 3-2 defeat by Real Madrid. Makaay, 24, is Tenerife's top scorer with 13 goals.

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