MATT Le Tissier is hoping Saints starlet Alex Chamberlain isn’t wrapped in too much cotton wool – like he was during his teenage years at The Dell.

Talking about the 17-year-old whose first ever league goal gave Saints victory against Oldham last weekend, Saints legend Le Tiss admits: “You can protect him a little bit.

“But if he’s good enough he’ll make it without having to protect him too much.

“I was over-protected as a 17-year-old.

“I came into the side and spent probably the best part of two years being on the subs’ bench, when I felt I should have been playing.

“It was a little bit different in my day, as we were in the first division.

“But we’re in League One and if he’s one of our better players, well, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”

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Matt Le Tissier was speaking at the launch of Texaco’s Teach Your Kids Proper Football Campaign. For more information click here and tell us what Proper Footy means to you.