Nigel Adkins says Saints will continue to encourage teenage sensation Luke Shaw to be fearless on the field.

The 17-year-old has been a revelation since breaking into the team and his run and cross at Chelsea to set up Jason Puncheon’s superb equaliser on Tuesday brought him to even greater national prominence.

With 21-year-old Nathaniel Clyne thriving in the right back role as well, and surging forward to create Saints’ first goal at Stamford Bridge, the club have an exciting dual threat.

Adkins believes that Saints need to continue to push them along.

“We keep encouraging him,” said Adkins when asked how to keep Shaw so fearless.

“We want the players to pass the football, we want the players to express themselves.

“When we are playing in a counter attacking way we want our two full backs to bomb on.

“When you look at Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne, two young Englishmen, we are very pleased about them.

“They have got a long long way to go in their careers but we are giving them an opportunity and they are improving all the time.”