Marian Pahars is in line for a first Saints start in 18 months against Hull City on Saturday.

The Latvian striker proved his fitness to manager Harry Redknapp when he scored the final goal in Saints reserves' 4-2 win against Pompey at St Mary's last week.

That followed two appearances as a substitute for the first team against Preston and Reading, but the 29-year-old has not started a first team game since April 24 2004, when he scored in a 2-1 Premiership defeat against Derby at St Mary's.

That could change against Peter Taylor's Hull on Saturday following Redknapp's decision to withdraw Pahars from the reserve team squad for last night's trip to Ipswich.

Reserve team coach Stewart Henderson said: "Marian was close to full fitness last week and, after a full week's training with the first team, the decision was made to not take him to Ipswich.

"His progress has been nothing short of excellent."

Dubbed the Latvian Michael Owen when he signed for £800,000 from Skonto Riga nearly seven years ago, Pahars scored 44 league and cup goals in 120 starts for Saints before suffering his injury nightmare.

He did not play a single game last season but, after three ankle operations, he is set to make his eagerly-awaited return to the starting line-up.

Pahars suffered a stress fracture to a heel in a pre-season friendly against Yeovil but he played a full 90 minutes for the reserves against Fulham a fortnight ago and was used as a second-half substitute for the first team against Reading and Preston.

He played the last 20 minutes against Reading and the last half hour at Deepdale and then starred against Pompey, putting him in serious contention for a recall as Saints look to end a run of seven successive draws.

Dexter Blackstock was pulled out of last night's reserve team game with a calf strain that makes him a doubt to face Peter Taylor's Hull at St Mary's.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Paul Sturrock was hoping to take Blackstock to Hillsborough on loan before the teenage striker suffered the setback.