BRADLEY Wright-Phillips believes that Stuart Pearce was right to sell him to Saints.

The 21-year-old striker faces former club Manchester City for the first time at Eastlands tomorrow as Saints chase a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

But rather than having a point to prove to City, Wright-Phillips feels that Pearce has proved HIS point to him.

The nine-goal Saints striker said: "Stuart Pearce was good with me and good for your confidence. He didn't think I was ready to play at that level at that time and I think he was right.

"To be fair, I have left and I've got much better. I didn't know enough to do what he wanted in the Premiership.

"I've got stronger. Fitness coach Nick Harvey has got me in the gym and worked on the weights and got me stronger.

"All-round, I've improved."

Wright-Phillips was a promising young player at City but struggled to make that breakthrough from squad member to first team regular. He made 41 appearances for City, scoring two goals, but the vast majority of those games were from the bench.

Indeed, he only made one Premiership start since scoring on his top flight debut for City at Middlesbrough in December 2004. He jumped off the bench 31 times in the Premiership.

Last summer Pearce decided that Saints' offer of £750,000 was a good one for the player and let him move to St Mary's.

"I haven't got anything to prove but it would be good if they could see I'd improved," said Wright-Phillips, who has bagged six league goals for Saints in 13 Championship starts plus another 13 from the bench.

"Before I was looked at like a youngster coming up, but it will be good to see what they think now. I don't know what to expect in terms of a reception - a lot of love I hope. I'm not really sure, I've not really thought about it.

"If they give me a good one I'll be nice to them and if they give me a bad one I'll be nasty to them - stick my tongue out, try and score and celebrate it."

See today's Daily Echo for the full story