Holmes sweet Holmes

Southampton winger Lee Holmes is eyeing up a return to the first-team when Charlton visit St Mary's next weekend.

Holmes, 21, came through 30 minutes of action for the Reserves on Wednesday night, with the former Derby player providing the only highlight of the game, as Dean Gorre's side were emphatically beaten 4-0 by Reading Reserves.

It was the first time Holmes has played in over two months after he was sidelined with a serious knee injury.

After coming through the game unscathed, Holmes is keen to get more minutes under his belt when the Reserves play Gillingham on Monday night, and then it is down to Head Coach Mark Wotte to decide whether he is fit enough to be involved in the first-team squad for the Charlton game.

Speaking to the club's official website, Holmes said, "Hopefully I can get another Reserve team game under my belt on Monday from the start and then we'll see where it leaves me for Saturday.

"We'll see what the manager wants to do and it will be his decision if he thinks I'm fit enough and ready." he added.

Despite the heavy defeat, Holmes was pleased that he managed to make a successful return to action.

"It's a good hurdle crossed and I'm quite pleased," he said. "Obviously the result wasn't good and the performance was pretty average, but for me it was another challenge and I'm pleased to have got through the game without any problems."

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