Saints have hit double trouble ahead of Sunday's televised trip to Liverpool with Stuart Ripley and Jason Dodd both struggling with injuries.

Ripley (pictured) is definitely out of the game at Anfield and may also miss the final fixture at home to Wimbledon a week later after hurting a knee in the 2-1 home defeat by Leicester.

But, with the match on Merseyside put back 24 hours for live screening, manager Glenn Hoddle is more hopeful that Dodd may recover from an ankle knock.

Dodd has not trained so far this week but Hoddle said: "We are waiting to see how it settles. He took a bang on the ankle which may put him out but we are hoping he will make it."

Ripley though may have to accept his season is over although he has still not given up hope of facing Wimbledon.

He said: "I don't remember doing anything to it. I cut inside someone, took two strides and it gave way under me.

"I saw a surgeon yesterday and he said the kneecap is crushing into the femur. He said it should be OK with a couple of weeks' rest which makes me doubtful for Wimbledon although he told me not to rule it out.

"I want to play but it would be silly to risk doing further damage if it is not right."

Goalkeeper Paul Jones has had a knee trimmed while sidelined following the back operation which has put him out until pre-season.

The surgery to remove a disc went well and the Welsh international is on course to make a full recovery in time for the new campaign.

He said: "I had a slight knee problem so since I am out of action anyway it seemed a good chance to get it sorted out now so it does not cost me any time.

"The back seems to be OK though. The surgeon is pleased with the way it has gone and it is now a case of me building up fitness."

James Beattie's ankle injury is improving following an injection and he has an outside chance of being fit to face Liverpool but Matthew Le Tissier's hernia problem is still proving troublesome and he may bring his planned surgery forward to next week.

l Saints have appointed Paul Blanchard as their new marketing manager. He has been marketing director of the Scottish Premier League for the past 20 months but has just begun work at The Dell.

He said: "My brief will be to get fans into the new stadium and to get back the fans who have missed out on seeing games because The Dell is too small."

Chairman Rupert Lowe added: "This is a very important appointment and we are delighted Paul is coming to join us. We have to reawaken people to the fact they will now be able to get into the new stadium."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.