Southampton midfielder Matt Oakley is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. The 26-year-old requires reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee and is not expected back until pre-season for the 2004-05 season.
Oakley suffered the injury in the home clash with Middlesbrough on September 27 and Gordon Strachan and his management team were hopeful that rest would solve the problem. Oakley felt discomfort in subsequent training sessions and it has now been decided that surgery is the only option.
Filed by Johnny Proby
