Theo Walcott yesterday signed his pre-contract agreement with Saints - then revealed he began his football career as a goalkeeper!

Walcott has attracted interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid following his performances on the right wing for Saints under-18s.

But after agreeing a deal to keep him at Saints until 2008, the 16-year-old revealed he hoped to make his name as a goalkeeper when he first played the game at the age of ten.

He said: "I didn't play much football until the age of about ten but I always wanted to be a goalkeeper and played in goal in my first competitive matches.

"I'm not sure what it was about it but I really liked it and I did all right as well."

Since then Walcott has established himself as one of the hottest properties in Europe - and was the envy of his school pals when he was linked with a £2m move to Chelsea.

"There were a few laughs and jokes about it at school and I don't think some of them really understood what it meant.

"I think they thought I was going to get paid £2 m! But that sort of thing really doesn't get to me. I'm quite laid back and I just try to ignore all that stuff in the papers.

"Obviously my friends wanted to know what I am doing when they read things like that but all I'm doing at the moment is trying to concentrate on my football - and my schoolwork."

Walcott sits his GCSEs at the Downs School in Compton, nr Newbury, this summer and could yet become the youngest Saint to play league football.

He will beat Danny Wallace's record of 16 years and 313 days if he plays before January 10 2006.

But his focus is on the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, with Saints set to play the winners of tomorrow night's clash between Derby County and Wolves over two legs - beginning with a St Mary's clash on April 9.

Walcott added: "There has been a bit of talk about getting into the first team as well but I'm not really thinking about that either right now.

"Saints are in a dogfight this season, so I don't think the younger lads will get many chances at the moment, but hopefully in future they will.

"I just want to keep improving and then hopefully my chance will come. I'm concentrating on the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup at the moment and I think the whole team is confident.

"Although we cannot underestimate our opponents I think we've got a great chance of winning it this year."