Southampton FC will be without midfield player Matthew Oakley for the UEFA Cup first-round second leg against FC Steaua Bucuresti.

Ligament damage
The 26-year-old will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury after spraining ligaments in last weekend's 1-0 defeat by English Premiership rivals Middlesbrough FC. The news is a blow to Southampton, who drew 1-1 in the first leg against Steaua and travel to Romania for the return on 15 October.

Manager dismayed
Speaking to Southampton's official website, manager Gordon Strachan said: "It looked an innocuous fall but he has hurt the inside of his knee and will be out for a while. It is very disappointing because Matt and Fabrice Fernandes have easily been our best midfielders this year."

Le Saux worry
Southampton have had more bad news with left-back Graeme Le Saux facing another week out with a hamstring strain. He faces a race against time to be fit for the Steaua match. One positive development, though, is the return of Latvian striker Marians Pahars to training after nearly a year of injury problems.