Walcott: I'm staying here

[Olzy]

Teenage striker sensation Theo Walcott has laughed off reports he will quit Southampton if the club fail to win promotion back to the Premiership.

Saints currently lie eighth in the Championship table and just one point outside the play-off places.

The 16-year-old said: "Of course I've seen the stories linking me with other clubs but although they're flattering I take absolutely no notice. If I'd wanted to go to any of them, I wouldn't have signed scholarship forms with Southampton over the summer.

"I'm ambitious to play in the Premiership but I want it to be with Saints," Walcott told the club's official website. "The fans have been superb and I'd hate them to think I'm looking to jump ship at the first opportunity."

[Lennon Saviour of England]

I thought at the time it was a stupid story.

[Lennon Saviour of England]

He was outstanding last night in his first start against Leeds. And he scored, could have had a few more. Not bad for a 16 year old.

[Olzy]

Southampton starlet Theo Walcott insists he is happy to continue his footballing education under the tutelage of Harry Redknapp at St Mary's.

The 16-year-old became Saints' youngest goalscorer when he netted on his full league debut in the defeat at Leeds last Tuesday, and followed that up with the opening goal in Saturday's 2-0 win at Millwall.

His appearance in the headlines has led to inevitable transfer speculation - but Walcott is keeping his feet on the ground.

The youngster is focusing on becoming a Premiership player with Saints, who are back in the promotion shake-up following their victory at the New Den, their first win in 10 Championship games.

"I just ignore everything in the papers really and concentrate on my football and the next game," said Walcott.

"My parents will help me out with that and so will my agent so I can just focus on the football.

"It was good for me to get on the scoresheet again. I was delighted to see it go in. Hopefully this is the chance I need to push on and keep my place," he added on the club's website.

Redknapp had used Walcott sparingly as a winger until the Elland Road clash, but his side's impotency in front of goal saw the Saints boss take a gamble on his precocious youngster in attack.

And Redknapp, who brought the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole through as youngsters at West Ham, knows he has another potential superstar on his hands.

"He is a talent - no doubt about that," said Redknapp. "He has great close control and blinding pace but I don't want to put any pressure on him by talking about how good he can be.

"He's a good kid with a great attitude and I'm sure he'll be able to handle it.

"There has been a lot of talk about Arsenal or Chelsea or Manchester United but the thing is he is playing league football here.

"He has been involved in nearly every game and he would not get that experience anywhere else.

"I have had a lot of kids with great potential in the past - some make it and some don't.

"Please God, he does make it because he's a smashing kid and he could not be in a better place to learn the game."