Jan Poortvliet faces an early selection dilemma ahead of Saturday’s massive St Mary’s showdown with Doncaster.

The match against their fellow Championship strugglers is the most important of Saints’ season so far,.

It looks set to have a huge impact on their fate this season.

Poortvliet must decide whether to stick with the team that battled to a gritty, vital win at Barnsley ...

... or whether to bring back Adam Lallana, one of his best players this season, as he returns from an ankle injury.

Lallana has missed the last three games after picking up his injury at Plymouth on Boxing Day.

The youngster has impressed in the ‘hole’ behind the lone striker this season, but David McGoldrick played in that role and Barnsley and scored the winner.

Poortvliet said: “It is always difficult.

“Adam knows the rules of the game and it’s always good to have people back.

“A week is always long and you know things can happen.

“Adam will play himself into the team I am sure and if that is not Saturday it will be the week afterwards or soon because quality always gets in the team.

“It will be good for the competition between the boys and will keep everyone sharp.”

When Saints won at Reading in November, Poortvliet kept the same starting XI for the home game with Plymouth three days later.

“After the win at Reading we kept the team the same for four matches, except for Morgan (Schneiderlin) who was injured,” recalled Poortvliet.

“We know Adam and maybe he will start, we will see.

“But this team did something at the right moment against Barnsley and gave us a boost.

“We have to go on and we have to have real competition as to who’s playing and not playing and who’s coming in.”

For full story see today's Daily Echo.