SAINTS have been rocked by the news that Michael Svensson will spend the rest of the year on the sidelines after being forced to have a second operation on his injured knee.

The big Swedish centre half, one of Saints' best players over the past two years, hasn't played for the first team since March and will not be able to resume training for at least three months.

Even if everything goes to plan, he is unlikely to be fit enough for first team action until the start of 2005 and his loss will leave a gaping hole at the back and also call into the question the logic of selling Fitz Hall last week.

Svensson first had an operation on his knee in June to try and cure the problem but it didn't work and an arthroscopy last week showed up damage to the surface of the right knee joint, forcing him to have another op.

Physio Jim Joyce said: "It is quite a complicated one. It is not as simple as merely trimming the cartilage so it is going to be around three months before he can return to full training."

Better news is that James Beattie has a chance of being fit for Saturday's visit of Blackburn to St Mary's, assuming he is still at the club, and Saints have played down suggestions his thigh strain is an injury of convenience to keep him out of the spotlight until he seals a move away from the south coast.

Joyce added: "It is a genuine problem. The scan has shown a small muscle tear and there is no way he could have played at Villa.

"He has shown improvement and has now begun jogging but it is still too early say if he will be fit for Saturday. He will certainly need another precautionary scan before going back into full training."

Matthew Oakley hopes to return to full training in ten days after a setback in his recovery from the knee surgery which kept him sidelined for most of last season.