Nigel Adkins has been urged to Shaw up his leaky defence – by giving one of the most promising youngsters at the club his Premier League debut.

England youth international Luke Shaw, 17, has been constantly linked to the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea in the past 18 months.

The left-back is still waiting to make his Saints league debut, but has played in FA Cup and League Cup ties.

Shaw has been injured but was due to return to training today.

And one of Adkins’ biggest fans, former Dell striker Gordon Watson, believes the youngster should be given his chance in a bid to improve Saints’ dismal defensive record – 24 goals conceded in just eight top flight games.

Watson, above right, said: “I would play Luke Shaw.

“Why not? He would be a left back playing at left back.

“Danny Fox has struggled this season and Maya Yoshida has not coped well there either.

“Something needs to change.

“What’s the worst that could happen – we lose again?”

The right-footed Yoshida appeared at left back during last weekend’s 4-1 loss at West Ham, after deputising at right back in Saints’ previous Premier League game at home to Fulham.

“We don’t need to put square pegs in round holes,” said Watson.

“Let’s see if Luke Shaw is good enough, let’s see why Arsenal have supposedly been keen to sign the kid.”

Watson, a former Leicester scout under ex-Saints boss Nigel Pearson, is a huge supporter of Adkins.

He was heartened to see most Saints fans appear to back his view – 78 per cent of around 3,000 supporters wanting Adkins to stay in a Daily Echo poll this week.

“That was 22 per cent less than it should have been,” said Watson.

“Nigel Adkins is the reason why Saints are in the Premier League.

“We should all remember where we were two years ago.

“We should not let eight weeks of unsettled results rip up two successful years.

“Even if Saints finished bottom of the league with only 10 points, I would not sack Nigel Adkins, no way.”