THE director of the West Ham academy believes that Harry Redknapp is the best man to blood the club's talented youngsters.

Tony Carr, 55, has been involved with the West Ham youth set-up for several years and reckons the likes of Theo Walcott and Martin Cranie could not have a better manager than Redknapp when the time comes for them to play regular first-team football.

Redknapp was criticised for not giving youth its chance at Pompey - instead producing a Fratton Park revolution involving experienced players such as Paul Merson, Teddy Sheringham, Steve Stone, Patrick Berger and Tim Sherwood.

But he has compared the Saints youngsters to those he had at West Ham, when England stars Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole rolled off the Upton Park academy conveyor belt in the 1990s.

"Harry came through the West Ham system as a player and he always promoted the youth policy when he was here as manager," said Carr.

"I met up with him recently and it's pretty clear that he needs experienced heads at the moment.

"A relegation battle is no situation to blood a young player, but he's the man to get Southampton out of trouble and is a great believer in getting young kids in.

"The test will come when the time comes to getting those players into the first team and seeing how easily they adapt.

"But if they can push on like Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand have done, they will have done very well.

"And it's a compliment to West Ham that Harry is comparing the Southampton kids to those he had with us."

Saints take on West Ham tonight with plenty of confidence after beating the Hammers twice in the league this season. A 4-1 away win in November was followed by a 3-1 victory at Staplewood in January.

"Southampton will start as favourites, they're a very strong all round team," added Carr. "They score goals and don't concede many, and that's a recipe for success.

"It's fair to say that Theo Walcott, Nathan Dyer and Leon Best have got goals written all over them. Lloyd James is also handy in midfield.

"They've got an excellent player in Martin Cranie at the back, and the league was effectively theirs at Christmas so they're the side to beat."

West Ham are hoping to have first teamers Chris Cohen, a left back who turned 18 on Saturday, and midfielder Mark Noble available.

Cohen has made three first-team starts for the Hammers, plus 17 as a substitute. Noble has broken into the first team squad this season and has made six starts plus three as a sub.

Between them, they have more first-team experience than the two members of the Saints team who have played in the first team.

Skipper Martin Cranie has made four starts plus two as a sub while striker Leon Best has made two starts plus three as a sub. Both have also gained first-team experience on loan to Bournemouth and QPR.

"We know what Southampton are about and we'll certainly give them a game," added Carr.

"When we lost at their place the scoreline didn't reflect the game and we haven't played our strongest team in either game. But they would probably say the same.

"The academy's job is obviously done if the youth team players are in the first team and Southampton will say the same. Academies are all about players progressing but hopefully we'll have Mark and Chris available."