DARREN Powell's comeback from a serious knee injury has been halted after just one reserve friendly.

The centre half played 60 minutes for Saints' second string in last week's 3-2 win at Upton Park - his first game since injuring posterior knee ligaments against Millwall on Easter Monday.

But he has since picked up a slight thigh strain in training and as a result wasn't being considered for this afternoon's Pontins Holiday Combination reserve trip to Aldershot.

"It's a shame considering Darren did well at West Ham," said reserve boss Stewart Henderson. "It could be that Darren's back training on Thursday."

Oliver Lancashire, a second year scholar, will partner Michael Svensson in the centre of defence.

Joseph Mills (left) and Jake Thomson (right) will occupy the fullback berths - Saints being a bit short in those positions given that Martin Cranie (Yeovil) and Kyle Critchell (Torquay) are out on loan.

First team squad members Bartosz Bialkowski and Marcelo Sarmiento will play at the Recreation Ground, while Adam Lallana might be playing his second game in less than 24 hours.

Lallana played the final 11 minutes of England Under-19s' 3-2 friendly win against Switzerland at Crewe's Gresty Road last night. Such a short run-out will almost certainly lead to him having another game this afternoon.

Leon Best will start up front alongside Cedric Baseya.

David McGoldrick wasn't being considered for the game as George Burley does not want to risk the striker getting injured with Grzegorz Rasiak still short of fitness.

Midfielder Simon Gillett, who has just come back from a successful loan spell with League One outfit Blackpool, will also play.