Saints are without three key players for tonight's clash with Cardiff.

Djamel Belmadi, Jermaine Wright and Kenwyne Jones have failed to recover from injury in time for the visit of the Bluebrids to St Mary's.

Belmadi injured his calf in the warm-up at Stoke at the weekend and had to be replaced at the last minute by Danny Guthrie with Rudi Skacel changing out of his suit to move on to the bench.

Wright lasted a full four minutes before getting a whack on his thigh and had to come off while Jones is still suffering from the ankle injury that forced him off at Preston.

It will be the first league game Wright has not figured in all season.

Boss George Burley said: "We just got Djamel back, who had been outstanding for the last two or three games, and he got injured in the warm-up.

"Then we lose Jermaine Wright, who has been maybe our most consistent midfield player, after five minutes.

"That's two main players out in midfield.

"It happens and you've got to take it on the chin and battle on.

"Also, Kenwyne Jones was a big miss on Saturday after he injured his ankle at Preston, and this game's come too soon for him as well".

Four-page Saints v Cardiff preview: See today's Daily Echo.