First game you watched live as a supporter?
It was my local non-league club, Havant & Waterlooville. I think it was a midweek game, possibly a pre-season friendly. I went down there with my brother and Dad, and that was my first lads together football experience, so it was certainly a special one.
First football hero?
David Beckham was my first footballing hero. He played the game that I love with the free-kicks and set-pieces, so I was the boy who copied his hairstyle, his boots and just wanted to be him as a kid.
First football boots?
The first football boots that I can remember owning were the black, red and white Adidas Predators. They were always the ones I was hoping to open on Christmas Day and would wear them around the house.
First kit?
It was an England kit and I got it when I was around six. I’m sure it was the Umbro one made in 2000, that had the black stripes around the sleeve and collar.
First mentor in football?
I didn’t have a mentor as such, but when I got into the first team at Southampton I would say Steven Davis, who was a great role model for me. He wasn’t the loudest, or the most outgoing in training, but the way he went about everything was professional and how I think you should be, so he was a good person to play alongside, watch and learn from.
First professional game?
For Southampton in the EFL Cup fourth round, Crystal Palace away in October 2011. I was only 16 years old and there was a lot to contend with on the pitch playing the game, but then having to do your initiation song as well. I always remember Jack [Cork], who played centre-back. I was playing centre-midfield, and he was really helpful in calming me down and keeping me focused on the stuff that I needed to do.
First professional goal?
Coventry away in the FA Cup third round in January 2012, again for Southampton. We were losing 1-0 at half-time but managed to come back and win 2-1 and progress to the fourth round. I remember finding myself in a natural goalscoring position in the box after a brilliant cross from Adam Lallana, which was quite strange as I had never really found myself that far forward, but I managed to slot it away!
First red card?
My first red card came away at Sunderland. I gave the ball away on the halfway line and wanted to try and win the ball back as they were counter-attacking. Jermain Defoe received the ball in the box and cut across my path and I couldn’t stop, ended up bringing him down and unfortunately got a red card. It’s one of those moments that you learn from.
First international goal?
It was for England against San Marino in March 2021. It was a huge night. I think it’s one that you dream of as a boy growing up. You want to play for England, you want to score at Wembley and to fulfil that is a massive honour and a great achievement. I did a little bit of work in the week leading up to the game, I wanted to try and get in the box, try and be a goal scoring threat and that’s something I knew was a responsibility of mine in that game, so to do that and get a goal, I came away from the pitch feeling very happy!
