SAINTS manager Russell Martin hopes to have Ross Stewart and Adam Lallana back from injury for the first time later this month.

The pair will be in addition to Kamaldeen Sulemana, who did feature during pre-season and is also slated to be ready for the Carabao Cup second round.

Saints are set to visit Championship Cardiff City during the week commencing August 26, after their first home match of the Premier League season.

All three players are currently absent from full team training but Martin told the Daily Echo: "I think they'll all be back on the grass this week.

"You'll see them smiling and running around with the lads. They are all quite advanced in their rehab so they will be back.

"Hopefully in contention for the Carabao Cup game. I would suggest Forest after only a few days of training next week would be maybe too much.

"We'll see - but we are hopeful that the week after that, all three of them will be back in contention properly."

Saints host Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 3pm, after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United in last weekend's Premier League opener.