DAN PETRESCU is in line for his first Saints start against Leicester tomorrow after coming through 45 minutes of a reserve team friendly.

The Romanian (pictured) has made only one brief appearance as substitute since moving from Bradford. A virus ruled him out at Tottenham and he was cup-tied against Sheffield Wednesday.

He played the first half of yesterday's hard-fought 1-0 win over QPR Reserves at Staplewood as a fitness exercise and is likely to come straight into the side against the Foxes.

Uwe Rosler played an hour of the match, which was settled by a close-range Imants Bleidelis strike five minutes from time.

But the game came too soon for Matthew Le Tissier who tweaked a hamstring in training last week.

Le Tissier said: "I had a good session yesterday and will be back in full training tomorrow. It was only a slight tweak but there was no point risking it in a game.

"If it went that would be another four weeks and that is the last thing I can afford right now."

The match was also too early for Paul Hughes who resumed training yesterday after a three-month lay-off with a groin problem.

Both hope to play in a re-arranged FA Premier Reserve League game against Arsenal at Borehamwood on Monday.

Tahar El Khalej was due back on the south coast today after helping Morocco to a useful 0-0 draw in Egypt in their World Cup qualifier.

James Beattie did not train yesterday still feeling the foot injury which made him a doubt against Wednesday, while Jason Dodd has a recurrence of a back problem.

Saints boss Glenn Hoddle has denied weekend reports that the club could be lining up a bid for Wimbledon midfielder Damien Francis. He said: "There is no truth in that at all."