Murty in line for Saints start

The 34-year-old former Reading captain has been on trial at the club for approaching two weeks but has not been able to figure in any pre-season matches for insurance reasons.

Caretaker boss Stewart Henderson was hoping to give Murty his Saints debut in the game at Bournemouth at the weekend.

But that couldn’t happen so he is now targeting tomorrow’s match at Cheltenham.

With Murty out of contract so available for nothing he is a potentially attractive signing for a new manager.

And Henderson wants to give him a game.

He said: “I was hoping to play Graeme Murty but there is an insurance issue with him but hopefully that will be cleared up by tomorrow.

“Somebody like him with his background and leadership qualities would serve us well.

“My last recollection of him was a few years ago when we played up at Reading.

He looked a very accomplished full back and he was captain of the side that got promotion (under Steve Coppell in 2005/06).

“He’s looked fit in training so hopefully something can be done there, but that won’t be my decision.”

Speaking of other possible players for tomorrow’s game at Whaddon Road, Henderson added: “If I’m still in charge I’ll make some changes where I can.

“There were a couple of players I had earmarked to play on Saturday but it didn’t quite happen so hopefully they may be available tomorrow.

“We have a few players on the sidelines and if they come back it looks very promising."

Despite a 2-1 defeat to League Two side Bournemouth at Dean Court, Henderson was relatively pleased by some of what he saw from his side.

“It was a good game for us. We tried one or two things and they worked out reasonably well.

“Once we took the lead I thought there was a period after that where we were going to take control of the game and maybe add to our one goal.

“But then five minutes of madness and a bad mistake and a couple of goals and we were on the back foot.”