Saints boss Gordon Strachan praised the fitness of his players after they returned for pre-season training.

With the exception of the internationals who are off until the team travel to Scotland for their training camp on Friday, all the senior squad reported back yesterday in great shape.

The players have had four clear weeks off during the summer but have had to go running three times a week for the other three weeks.

That summer schedule has already paid off.

Strachan said: "They have returned for training and I'm absolutely delighted by the standard of fitness.

"We did fitness and stamina tests and everybody, to a man, is in better shape than when they came back last year.

"They have all kept themselves in good condition and although we haven't got a game until we go to Sweden in two weeks' time they would be ready for a match in seven days - that's how high their level is."

The squad included new signing Darren Kenton, who was signed on a free from First Division Norwich City in May and who was being officially unveiled at a St Mary's press conference later today.

But absent was striker Agustin Delgado, who will definitely require a back operation that will keep him out of the side for at least the first two months of the season.

A series of injections has failed to cure his back problems and he will now have surgery in a bid to trim and repair his injured disc.

After flying back home for a summer break, Delgado was told by doctors in his homeland that surgery would be required.

Saints requested that when he was fit for the long-haul flight that he came back to be examined by the club's doctors, who have agreed with the Ecuadorian assessment.

It has not been confirmed when or where the operation will take place.

But it will be the fourth time the Ecuadorian will have undergone surgery in under two years at St Mary's.