GOALKEEPER Michael Poke will NOT be returning to Southampton today – despite a Saints request for him to return to St Mary's after their No.1 Kelvin Davis picked up an injury on Tuesday night.

Gulls manager Paul Buckle was yesterday resigned to losing Poke, but the Football League have stepped in and won't give permission for the move to go ahead.

Poke will now stay at Plainmoor until his loan deal expires on January 2, although he won't be available to play in Saturday's FA Cup tie at Stockport County.

However, loanee full-back Adam Smith has been given permission to play in the game by Tottenham Hotspur.

See tomorrow's Herald Express for the full story.