SAINTS head coach Mark Wotte will welcome Lee Holmes back into his squad for this weekend’s crucial clash against Charlton after he came through a 90 minute run-out for the reserves last night.

The 21-year-old started his first game for more than two months as the reserves drew 2-2 with Gillingham at Staplewood and he looked sharp, especially early on.

Winger Holmes has been out since the 2-2 draw at Norwich at the end of January after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury he picked up earlier in the season.

After limping off during the 4-1 defeat to QPR in September, when he first suffered the medial ligament damage to his right knee, Holmes was out for three months.

He made his return to action with a 30-minute display in the in the reserves’ 4-0 defeat to Reading last week and built on that by playing the full game against Gillingham.

And Wotte said: “For the first hour he was doing very well, showed a lot of dynamic movement and was very confident on the ball.

“In the last 20 minutes he showed some fatigue but it was only his second game.

“That’s his first 90 minutes and it's a big bonus that he is back and ready to play for the first team.

“His next goal is to get into the team because I am not giving away presents.

“That wouldn’t be fair to the other players.

“He is available and if you are available you can start or you can start on the bench.”

For match report see today's Daily Echo.