SAINTS have confirmed that Michael Svensson will be not be fit for the start of pre-season training.

The big centre half has not figured for Saints since March last year after badly damaging his knee, which has so far required two operations.

Svensson was hoping to be fit for the new campaign and to re-establish himself in the Saints side to help them out of the Championship at the first attempt. However, it now seems unlikely he will be in the starting line-up when Saints kick off the new season.

Svensson's agent, Kent Carlsson, confirmed that his client was at least able to see a little ray of light at the end of the tunnel but added that it was still very much touch-and-go as to whether he would be fit for the start of the season.

But his recovery and return to fitness, after almost 18 months out of action, will have to be very rapid now Saints have announced he will not be ready for the start of pre-season training.

Svensson is running steadily but can only manage to do that on alternate days.

He has provisionally arranged to see his Swedish specialist in London at the end of this month but the club have already ruled him out of their opening pre-season friendly at Motherwell on July 12.

Promising young striker Leon Best is also set to miss out on the start of pre-season training.

Best has broken a bone in his foot after going over on it in a shuttle run in closed season training.

He has undergone an X-ray which has shown an undisplaced fracture.

His progress will be reviewed again on July 1 but he is set to miss the first fortnight of pre-season training.