Inigo Idiakez will be back in contention for tomorrow's FA Cup tie with Leicester - but Alan Bennett looks set to miss out.

The Spanish midfielder was starting to recapture some good form in an attacking central midfield role before being sidelined by an Achilles injury.

That has kept him out of action since the horror 5-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday on November 10, but he is fit to return to the squad tomorrow.

Joining him will be Darren Powell, Rudi Skacel and Gregory Vignal who have all recovered from flu.

But there is not such good news on central defender Bennett, who has played the last eight games for Saints after just two Championship appearances in four months prior to that run.

George Burley has been in contact with the Royals to convince them to extend his loan spell, which runs out a week on Saturday, until the end of the season.

That has not yet been agreed.

Discussions will resume next week but, in the meantime, the Berkshire club have refused permission for Bennett to play tomorrow as any appearance for Saints would make him cup-tied if Reading do decide he should return to the Madejski Stadium.

The game is also the last for Youssef Safri before he leaves to represent Morocco at the African Nations Cup.

Burley said: "Inigo's been a big miss.

"When he was fully fit and last in the team he gave us that attacking quality from midfield.

"At this stage of his career that is his strength more than the defensive side.

"It would be a great bonus for us to get Inigo fully fit."

Full story and Saints v Leicester FA Cup previews in today's Daily Echo.