THE teenager who presents possibly the biggest threat to Saints' appearance in the FA Cup final is aiming to create football history.

Few Saints fans would have heard of Michael Chopra this time last week.

Now the 19-year-old, who started the season playing for Newcastle United's academy side, is viewed as the player who could help create a mammoth semi-final upset at Villa Park.

In only his second Watford appearance since joining on loan from Newcastle, Chopra bagged four goals in the Hornets' eyebrow-raising 7-4 win at Burnley last weekend.

He could have had another hat-trick in the 1-0 success at Crystal Palace three days later.

Chopra is highly-rated by Newcastle boss Bobby Robson, who has the player signed on a contract until 2005.

And Saints fans have been warned that he is a player with potentially a great future.

He is also aiming to become the first England footballer of Asian origin at senior level.

The last Asian player to represent the senior side was Hong Y 'Frank' Soo who played in a wartime international during the 1940s.

Chopra is the son of Minty, an Indian-born Gateshead corner shop owner, and Englishwoman Sharon. And like James Beattie, Chopra's idol is a good one - Alan Shearer.

While Beattie cleaned Shearer's boots during his apprentice days at Blackburn, Chopra has risen through the Toon ranks looking up to the ex-Saints star.

He's even rubbed shoulders with the former England captain on his brief first team outings this season. They include a substitute appearance at the Nou Camp in a European Champions League fixture before Christmas.

Newcastle Chronicle reporter Alan Oliver said: "Chopra is viewed up here as the next Alan Shearer - he's that good. We were surprised that Bobby Robson even let him go out on loan."

A similarity between Shearer and the young pretender is that both went to Gosforth School and both wore the No 9 shirt for the school team.

While Shearer went on to become an international star, Chopra has represented England at every level from Under-15 to Under-20.

He has played for Newcastle at every level from Under-9 upwards.

Oliver said: "He's very highly rated here. He's had experience of the big occasion and he's a very confident player - really in the Shearer mould."

Chopra has even scored a Wembley winner - in the last minute for England Under-16s against Argentina in the final of an international schoolboys tournament in 2000 when he was named man-of-the-match.

He was also the first South Asian to ever be picked for England at any level. He also scored twice against China and once against France in the same tournament.

Chopra, who played for England Under-20s in their 2-1 win over Germany last October, started the current season with a bang. He blasted nine goals - including two hat-tricks - in his first five games for Newcastle reserves and Under-19s.

Last summer he played a major part in the Newcastle Academy lifting the Essent Eurovoetbal Tournament in Groningen, Holland, hitting a hat-trick in the final against FC Twente.

Chopra has even been likened to Michael Owen.

Les Reed, the Football Association's director of technical development, said: "He's a natural goalscorer with, great technique, superb balance and two good feet, and he's lethal in the six-yard box.

"The way he dribbles the ball and gets behind defenders reminds me of Michael Owen."

Chopra has already got a sponsorship deal to wear Adidas clothes.

But greater riches could follow if he silences the 18,500 Saints travelling army at Villa Park.