Alex Chamberlain has more to come, says dad and ex England winger Mark Chamberlain

He believes there is a lot more to come from the 17-year-old Saints starlet, whose first league goal secured three vital points against Oldham on Saturday.

So far, Chamberlain’s career has followed a similar path to his dad’s.

“I always told Alexander ‘never be a winger’!” laughs the former Port Vale, Stoke, Sheffield Wednesday and Pompey wide man.

“I also made my debut at 16 and was never a winger until I got into the first team. I would much rather have played in central midfield but because I was quick I was kept out on the grass away from the mud!”

Chamberlain missed his son’s first league goal on Saturday, as he had to stay at the family’s Port Solent home while their water tank was repaired.

It was left to mum Wendie, a physiotherapist, to support their son and celebrate his goal from the stands. “She was very excited, but I wasn’t best pleased to miss it,” smiles Chamberlain, who has been impressed at his son’s progress this season.

“I didn’t expect him to be as good as he is as soon as this. He’s a very good player with a lot of pace and skill.”

“Ideally, I see him as a midfielder but he doesn’t look too bad, to be fair! You find your position eventually and he’s doing very well.”

Mark Chamberlain, who won eight caps for England under Sir Bobby Robson, is a valuable sounding board for Saints’ latest academy product.

“A few weeks ago I told him that if he was struggling he only had to ask someone who once played on the wing for England. He just gave me a dodgy stare!

“I try and keep it simple because it’s one of the hardest positions to play. You have to get up and down and you don’t always see a lot of the ball.

“It’s brilliant if you’re making things happen, but not getting a touch for 10-15 minutes and finding yourself marked up when you do can be frustrating.

“He’s got most of his performances on DVD so I have a look at those and say ‘maybe you could have done this or that’.

“He’ll learn as he gets older. I remember watching Theo [Walcott] first play on the wing and thinking he needed to do some work on making the right runs at the right time.

“Eventually you get to know where to run and when and he’ll pick that up. He’s a clever boy and playing there doesn’t seem to be hindering him at the moment!

“I’m just glad he’s at a nice club with a great infrastructure and good support. I never played in front of 20,000 when I was his age!”

Chamberlain jnr has already learnt to cope with a managerial change.

“Being very new to professional football, he was a bit apprehensive about that because Alan Pardew gave him his opportunity and a lot of confidence.

“Everyone thinks he must be very confident but if you have a look at his finger nails you’ll realise he isn’t!“I told him that everyone can see he’s good enough so it shouldn’t be a problem. You just hope the right person comes in with the right opinion.”

Chamberlain met Nigel Adkins recently.

“Nigel spoke to me briefly the other week about wanting to look after him which is good because it’s asking a lot of a boy to compete physically with men, week in and week out.

“[Former Southampton defender] John McGrath did the same for me at Port Vale. In my first season I played 11 games, then 17, then 40 in my third.

“Alexander will want to play more but it’s good to pull him away from the first team occasionally.

“He played for Southampton’s development squad recently and was really looking forward to it because it didn’t have the same pressure. He plays differently for the first team but when he’s relaxed, feels more part of it and realises how good he is, he’ll start to express himself more.”