Burley: Jones is Saints' Drogba

The Southampton manager has the luxury of five fit frontmen to choose from for the semi-final first leg at St Mary's.

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But he gave the biggest hint yesterday that Kenwyne Jones would be in his starting line-up after his goals against Southend which cemented The Saints's sixth place in the final table.

Despite only recently returning from a long break with a shoulder injury the 22-year-old has scored 16 goals this season and Burley believes he is a big star in the making.

"All people seem to talk about is Gareth Bale," said Burley. "But for me Kenwyne Jones is another Didier Drogba in the making.

"This is Kenwyne's third season as a professional. As far as physical attributes, his strength and power in the air is second to none.

"He is a good finisher and he is still progressing. So as far as potential, as a striker? I don't know a young striker with more potential than Kenwyne Jones. And he is not bad at backflips either.

"Kenwyne is a player who sometimes looks a bit lazy. But he has got used to the pace of the game. In the air he is second to none - his spring is phenomenal - and he is very quick."

Bale's future, however, continues to overshadow the clash with Derby as the cash-strapped St Mary's board seem set to sell the teenage Welsh International if they do not clinch a return to the Premier League.

With the parachute payments from relegation two years ago about to run out if Saints are to spend another season in the Championship, they will need the £7 million fee Bale would command to survive.

But Burley insists a decision on Bale will not be taken until after the playoffs are over and believes the full-back's progress would be best served by spending another season on the South Coast.

"We will look at it in the summer. Gareth and his family are very happy here. The key figure in this is Gareth. I have already said he needs to play at Southampton this season and next to fulfill his potential and I have never changed my views.

"Hopefully it will be with Southampton in the Premiership. If it has not happened, hopefully it will be with Southamptonin the Championship. I have been very pleased with his progress.

"He has got all the attributes to be a world-class full-back but he is still maturing and we feel he needs another season at Southampton before he steps up."