Saints need to get into the emergency loan window for a striker and fast.

Saints look set to face Tranmere Rovers on Saturday with only one fit experienced striker in Rickie Lambert and rookie Ryan Doble away with the full Welsh squad for their match in Bulgaria.

Lee Barnard apparently underwent emergency surgery for his "severe" hand injury and is looking unlikely to be avaialable for Saturday although its unclear as to whether this injury will keep him out for Saturday or indeed for a lot more games after, due to the extend of the injury not being revealed, whilst I can only guess, having surgery on my own hand two years ago for a fairly routine op, I would hazard a guess that it could be at least a month, I do stress though that without knowing the severity or nature of the injury its hard to be exact.

Nigel Adkins really needs to get into the loan signing options and fast, certainly considering at least one striker and some would say two given the uncertainty surrounding Barnard aligned with Connolly's injury record last season which already seems to be carrying on into this.

Perhaps a combination of a promising youngster Nathan Eccleston of Liverpool has already been mentioned, plus perhaps an experienced old head would be a good balance.

Whatever Adkins decides to do he needs to do it swiftly in what is proably the first real test of his managerial career at Saints, although as his predecessor Alan Pardew was publicly stating he needed a striker over two months ago it is certainly not a problem of Adkins making but one he has inheirited.  

Photo: Action Images

kcaj1164retsof added 11:05 - Oct 7 i personally don't like the 'promising youngster' option. Promising young players from Premier league clubs usually produces kids with next to no experience of league foot ball at first team level who usually are only useful as substitutes, an option for the last ten minutes if a 'last roll of the dice' is needed. We have enough players in our own ranks for that and they should be given the opportunity first.

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Vasco added 12:13 - Oct 7 SRL & Gully upfront with Lallana centre midfield just behind them. Or Drogba
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