Hassan Kachloul is desperate to end his African drought after six months without a goal.

The Moroccan midfielder scored four in the first six games of the season but then found the goals dried up with none in the next 20 as his scoring touch deserted him.

He would love to hit the net again at Chelsea tomorrow and jokingly pledged to dive in celebration after taking stick from his teammates this week for his failure to win a penalty against Aston Villa.

He said: "I have gone a long time without a goal and I want to score more than anyone. When I come onto the pitch I just want to see the net move!

"I have got into a few scoring positions but either the keeper has made a save or the ball has been cleared off the line.

"Maybe I am trying too hard but if I get one then perhaps it would set me off on another scoring burst because then I would stop worrying. But it will not be easy because Chelsea are one of the best teams in the country."

Saints will run a series of fitness checks ahead of the game. Chris Marsden has flu but was hoping to be back training today while Matthew Oakley and Luis Boa Morte have slight hamstring problems.

New Moroccan defender Tahar El Khalej has recovered from an ankle problem and Claus Lundekvam is back in the squad after missing the last two games with a calf strain.

James Beattie's ankle is on the mend but he is some way short of a first-team return. Patrick Colleter begins a four-match ban for a red card after throwing a punch playing for the reserves at Derby.

A major boost though for Saints fans is that Matthew Le Tissier is almost ready to start his first Premiership game since pulling a hamstring at Watford on December 28.

Manager Glenn Hoddle said: "He is nearly there. What he is missing now is match fitness but he is part of the squad and is now an option to start or come on from the bench.

"He can still get fitter and in better shape but he has shown a great attitude and done a lot of hard training. He has played a few reserve games now and is as close to being as fit as we can get him.

"The next thing is matches. We gave him a recovery programme which he has not had before and he is probably three quarters of the way through it.

"He will give us further competition for places because of the quality he has got. He can do things which other players only dream of."

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