SAINTS will be without Neal Trotman for Friday’s FA Cup clash at Bristol Rovers, but can call on Michail Antonio after the winger extended his loan deal.

Trotman, on loan from Preston until January, has been refused permission to play in the first round match by his parent club, as they do not want him to be cup tied.

The situation is also the same for 18-year-old Chelsea midfielder Jacob Mellis, who is also with Saints until the new year and has been told he cannot play this Friday.

However, Reading have agreed to allow Saints to use winger Antonio who yesterday extended his loan deal at the club until January.

Trotman’s loss will come as a blow to Alan Pardew’s preparations for the trip to the Memorial Stadium.

Along with Radhi Jaidi, the 22-year-old centre back has formed a solid partnership in the heart of Saints’ defence.

The pair have played together for the last eight League One matches, in which Saints have won five, drawn two and lost just once.

But Pardew will now be forced into a reshuffle at the back, with Wayne Thomas and Chris Perry vying for a place in the starting lineup.

Neither have played since starting together in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy shootout victory over Torquay a month ago.

Thomas featured in the reserves’ 3-1 friendly win over Torquay on Monday afternoon and is perhaps the most likely to fill the void.

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