Huckerby – tricky hip, exit rumours and all – returns to the bench at St Mary's

Rumours of Darren Huckerby's impending demise – or rather, departure – looked at least six months premature at St Mary's tonight as the long-time City favourite found his way back onto the bench for this evening's Championship clash with Southampton.

The 32-year-old may well taste pastures new in the summer – he could, of course, do the same as a free agent any time he wished – but for as long as he still had six months of a Canary contract to run and the small matter of 4,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean to cross in the next 48 hours, it appeared that D Huckerby would still be a Canary player come February 1.

His name prompted a warm cheer from the 800-odd travelling Canary supporters ahead of kick-off.

Otherwise, City boss Glenn Roeder proved true to his word and kept faith with the same starting 11 that had threatened to take Leicester City apart ten, long days ago.

On the bench and it was youngster Michael Spillane that got the fourth and final outfield nod behind Huckerby, Jamie Cureton and Matty Pattison.

Whether or not Chris Goreham and Co will have two Pattisons to worry about – or rather Patersons – come Saturday's home clash with Preston North End was for the next two days to decide after Scunthorpe were reported to have rejected City's ?850,000 bid for their top scorer, Martin Paterson.

Speaking before the match, Saints joint caretaker boss John Gorman had no such worries – without a penny to his name, he wasn't about to splash the cash in any direction. He may, of course, not be in charge for that much longer – even if his old Chelsea and England side-kick Glenn Hoddle was among the early front-runners to succeed George Burley at St Mary's.

Gorman and Saints legend Jason Dodd at least raised an eyebrow or two with their team selection, Southampton apparently looking to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Stern John playing just off Grzegorz Rasiak and Lee Croft's big pal Bradley Wright-Phillips.

At the back the Gorman-Dodd show at least got Lady Luck to smile as centre-half Andrew Davies was passed fit to play.