BARRING a late setback, Saints boss Ruben Selles will be able to call upon striker Paul Onuachu for Monday’s trip to Nottingham Forest but central defender Mohammed Salisu remains absent and could miss the rest of the season. 

Onuachu was not part of Saints’ travelling contingent for last weekend’s visit to Newcastle with Selles citing discomfort in the forward’s knee as the reason. But the towering striker has now been deemed ready to return - barring a late setback.

“Paul Onuachu is fit,” Selles said on Friday afternoon. “He came back to training this week and if nothing happens between now and Monday, he will be selectable for the game."

Of course, there’s no guarantee that Onuachu will have a role in the meeting with Nottingham Forest regardless of his fitness with the Nigerian struggling for regular opportunities since his January move from Genk.

The clash at St James’ Park was the second consecutive Premier League match in which Onuachu was not part of Selles’s squad while he has now failed to start any of his side’s last ten matches.

Meanwhile, Salisu will miss the trip to the City Ground and could be out for the rest of the season, joining left-back Romain Perraud who has undergone surgery on an ankle problem sustained in Saints’ 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth.

"Mohammed Salisu is still out of the squad together with Tino Livramento, Juan Larios and Romain Perraud," Selles said. "They will not be involved in this game as it's still a long-term injury for them. We don't know if we'll see them until the end of the season.

"Romain had surgery yesterday and it went well. It was in Cardiff and he's back today in the afternoon. The surgery went OK but he'll be out for the rest of the season and he will be available probably at the beginning of pre-season for next season."