Saints will hand Pele his debut tonight in a bid to get him ready for the first Championship game of the season.

The defender has joined in pre-season training three weeks later than his teammates after his £8000,000 move from Beleneses went through last week.

That means he is short of fitness but he will make his Saints bow in the friendly at Cheltenham tonight.

He is also likely to figure against Panathinaikos at St Mary's on Saturday.

George Burley is keen to have Pele ready for the Championship opener against Derby a week on Sunday especially as he might well be without Danny Higginbotham.

He said: "We'll be giving Michael Svensson a game tonight and Pele as well. It will be a mixed team - we'll be giving other squad members a go.

"Pele is quick, strong and athletic. He's not just a big centre half, because he's got pace and uses the ball well.

"Coming from Portugal, it is a different style of play (in England) and he'll have to get used to that."

Burley will also have another look at Czech midfielder Mario Licka at Whaddon Road against the newly-promoted League One outfit.

Match report & reaction in tomorrow's Daily Echo