SAINTS will be hoping to welcome back influential midfielder Richard Chaplow as they prepare to embark on a potentially defining run of fixtures.

Chaplow has been sidelined since late November, when he injured his knee in the early stages of a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City.

Manager Nigel Adkins stated after Monday’s dismal 2-0 defeat to Leicester that the 26-year-old is one of a number of players he hopes to be fit by this weekend, when Saints visit Millwall in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

If Chaplow can return, it could prove a major boost – as his absence has coincided with an alarming dip in form.

Including the trip to Ashton Gate, when Chaplow lasted only seven minutes, Saints have won just three of their last ten league matches.

Looking at the Championship table over that period, Adkins’ men are ranked 18th in the division – a far cry from the second place they occupy overall.

It is a concerning run, especially given that they face fellow promotion contenders Cardiff, Birmingham and West Ham in the next few weeks, as well as another in-form club in Burnley.

Chaplow’s absence is obviously only part of a bigger picture.

Saints have lost key players such as Jose Fonte, Frazer Richardson, Kelvin Davis and Adam Lallana to injury for varying degrees of time in the intervening period.

And they have been without Rickie Lambert for three games and Morgan Schneiderlin for one, because of suspension.

But Chaplow has been the one constant.

And there is no doubt that Saints have badly missed his dynamic presence and goal threat on the right of midfield.

Since he broke down, they have struggled to properly replace him.

Steve De Ridder has been used out wide, but is preferred through the middle by Adkins.

Schneiderlin has also been deployed there, but is more comfortable in a central position, and the same is probably true for Jack Cork.

Guly do Prado played out wide in the early part of the season, but has become the first-choice partner to Rickie Lambert in attack.

Saints at least now have the option of Jason Puncheon, after he was surprisingly brought back into the first-team fold this week, and also Spurs loanee Yago Falque.

But the return of Chaplow would certainly provide a lift at a potentially defining time.

Ahead of the trip to Bristol City in November, Saints held a five-point lead over West Ham at the top.

More importantly, they were eight clear of third-placed Cardiff, with a game in hand on the Welsh side.

Now, though, the Hammers lead the division by three points, while Cardiff are just a point behind.

Saints host Cardiff next Tuesday.

That kicks off a daunting run of fixtures, with in-form sides Birmingham, Burnley and West Ham to follow.

And, while Saints are ranked 18th over the last ten games, their next four opponents are all in the top five for that same period.

The encouraging news, though, is that when Saints’ key players have played, the team has been head and shoulders above their rivals.

And if Adkins is correct that so many of them are returning this weekend, then the cavalry charge is coming at the perfect time.