DEFENDER Juan Larios is set to feature for Saints under-21s this evening as they get their Premier League 2 campaign under way against Leicester City.

Manager Russell Martin has confirmed that the Spanish full-back will play for Simon Rusk's side as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.

Larios, 20, made his return to football with the under-21s in a pre-season friendly against Chippenham Town earlier this month.

The former Manchester City man remains training with the first team but needs to reach a point where he can play 90 minutes before being available for senior team contention.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Martin said: "He's training with us, but he's just playing with them because he hasn't had a consolidated period of games.

"He will play 60 minutes for the under-21s against Leicester tonight all being well. That will be his third game for minutes.

"We need to get him to a point where he has played 90 minutes. It has been a long, long time since he has done that.

"We are really happy for Juan. We are pleased for him after seeing how hard he has worked to get back to this place.

"Now it's a case of stepping up and progressing in the hope that he can stay fit for long enough that he can be an option for us because he is a really talented player.

"He is a really brilliant character. I really hope we can get him there and I've got no doubt he can help us."

Former England under-19s boss Rusk will take charge of his first competitive game as Saints under-21s boss tonight.

He has inherited a team which narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season but has since seen a number of players depart on loan or for the first team.

Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw are now viewed as senior team players and could be in the squad for the opening Premier League game at Newcastle United.

Rusk is however able to call upon exciting Irish duo Romeo Akachukwu and Jay O'Brien Whitmarsh, while Will Merry, Jay Robinson and Nat Boot have been exposed to the senior team during pre-season.