Adam Lallana and Jonathan Forte are pushing for recalls to the Saints side to face Bristol Rovers tomorrow.

Lallana looks almost certain to return to the starting line-up after two games on the bench to protect the groin injury he has been suffering.

Forte on the other hand has been restricted to just substitute appearances since joining Saints in January but has made a big impact on his last two outings, scoring twice to help overhaul MK Dons and changing the game in Saints’ favour at Rochdale, even if they couldn’t manage a comeback on that occasion.

Whether they are both recalled or just one will depend largely on the formation Nigel Adkins opts for.

He again started with the diamond midfield at Rochdale but it didn’t work out for Saints who were 2-0 down by the time it was changed and, despite then dominating, they couldn’t make a breakthrough.

If Adkins decides to stick with the diamond then it may be that only Lallana is drafted into the side, quite probably at the expense of Dan Harding, right, who is suffering from a groin injury. Ryan Dickson would slot in at left back.

However, should the manager go to the flat midfield four it may need a second change to fill the wide right midfield role.

Guly do Prado has been searching for form in recent weeks and has not generally flourished out wide.

As he won’t get in ahead of the in-form strike duo of Rickie Lambert and Lee Barnard at the moment, and with the head of the diamond position possibly being scrapped for now, Forte could get his chance.

He is not primarily known as a winger but as a striker. However, his searing pace gives Saints something they have largely been lacking since the injury to Alex Chamberlain.

Forte showed against Rochdale that he can play out wide if required and could not have done much more to press his case for a start with his last two performances.

Elsewhere Adkins will have to decide whether to use either Dale Stephens or Richard Chaplow in the centre of midfield while Dan Seaborne is also pushing for a recall after replacing Radhi Jaidi midway through the second half at Rochdale.