Pahars may miss Middlesbrough opener

Pahars is likely to miss the start of the season as a result. Saints chief physio (while everyone's on their hols) Rupert Lowe said, "It is disappointing but it is just one of those things. there was no way we could have known this was going to happen otherwise he would have had the operation at the end of the season. He may or may not recover in time for the first league match but if not then it will be an opportunity for others."

The good news is that it may well give Agustin Delgado his first opportunity to shine for the club, assuming that his knee injury has finally cleared up. The more direct replacement for Delgado, and a further indication of the depth of squad we now have, is Brett Ormerod. Ormerod steadily improved since his transfer from Blackpool last season and he will be hoping to continue that at the first opportunity next season.