EX-SAINT David Hughes admits it will be a "bitter sweet" experience for Eastleigh if their hot strike property Robbie Matthews gets his big professional break.

It's certainly a distinct possibility after the 20-year-old ploughed an impressive lone furrow up front for ten-man Southampton reserves in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Derby.

Flu-ridden fellow Eastleigh trialist Lee Bright played half a game in defence before asking to come off, but it was Wiltshire hod carrier Matthews who stole the show.

Steve Wigley, Saints reserve team manager, was sufficiently impressed by the former Salisbury and Bemerton hitman to comment: "The centre-forward has definitely got something.

"It was hard for him on his own up front in the second half but he worked hard and did well."

Hughes, Eastleigh's assistant boss, made the long trek to Burton with manager Paul Doswell to support the Ten Acres duo and the former Wales midfielder declared: "Robbie will get a move at some point, I'm convinced of that.

"Whether that's with Saints I don't know because it's a big step up from Eastleigh to Southampton with a lot of football in between.

"It'll be bitter-sweet if he does move on because we don't want to lose him, but he's got all the raw ingredients."

According to Hughes, Matthews' biggest asset is his pace. "The professional game's so quick these days and it's getting quicker all the time. Anyone who's got pace must have half a chance," he said.

"Robbie tells me he went to the same school as Mick Channon and, in many ways, they're similar players - tall, rangy and long-legged."

With the likes of Hughes and Saints' Jason Dodd getting involved in coaching at Eastleigh, it would be easy for the Wessex League leaders to hog all the credit for Matthews' progress since his summer move from Bemerton.

But Hughes was honest enough to admit: "If anything, our strikers have been neglected a bit while we've concentrated on getting the base of the side right.

"Robbie's got to take most of the credit himself and it can't have been easy when he's out hod carrying from first thing in the morning until it gets dark. It's a hard, old job he does and then he's turning up twice a week for training and playing on a Saturdays."

Bright's departure after 45 minutes at Burton was another blow for the tall, left-footed centre-back who has been dogged by back and hamstring problems over the last couple of seasons.

Hughes knows all about injury setbacks having been forced to retire from the pro game early and said: "I feel for Lee because of the problems he's had, but if he wants to play at a higher level then he's got to go that extra half-yard and make sacrifices.

"When you've got a body like he has, it means turning up for games half an hour earlier and doing your own personal stetches and warm-up.

"I know because I had to do it myself, but it was different for me because football was my job. When you're a semi-professional and you've got another job to do as well, it's hard, but the ball's in Lee's court now.

"Both he and Robbie have got bright futures ahead of them at whatever level they play at, but you get nothing for nothing in this world and it's all about showing the right attitude and working hard.

"As a semi-pro you have to discipline yourself rather than have someone telling you what you can and can't do. Only time will tell if they make it but, if not, me and Dos have got a couple of players here who will be assets for Eastleigh no matter how many leagues we go up."

AS if life's not tough enough for Jewson Wessex League basement boys Whitchurch United, they've got Matthew Le Tissier to contend with at Ten Acres tomorrow.

The Saints legend is ready to make his second league appearance for Eastleigh just ten days after helping them to a comprehensive 4-0 defeat of title rivals Totton.

As a special Christmas treat for the kids, Le Tiss will be turning up early at Ten Acres with a pen at the ready. Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell explained: "Le Tiss is going be available for autographs beforehand, so if anyone's got a video, book or something they want him to sign for Christmas then he'll be happy to oblige. It's a nice touch by him."

Entry as always is free for 14-and-unders and just £1 for children over-14. "We'd love as many kids there as possible to make a real occasion of it," said Doswell.