Sam Howarth, the former Tranmere, Doncaster and Liverpool defender now lends a bit of northern steel to the youthful Southampton Saints back four.

Sam is currently "carrying an ankle" - a nasty knock from the Saints' previous outing against Wimbledon - and so was able to spare five minutes from training to chat to BBC Southampton's Pete Thompson.

Hello Sam
Hello BBC Southampton's Pete Thompson.

Pete is fine - really
Ok Pete.

Not training tonight?
No - still injured I'm afraid.

It gets quite agressive doesn't it?
Yeah - us northerners are full of grit and we give as good as we get - but we're not nasty - not like some of the London teams.

Our home grown talent are a bit too genteel - is that it?
They're too nice. They're pussy cats really - but maybe its their age because a lot of them are very young.

What about you Sam. How did you get started?
Well I was the youngest of five girls so I think my dad really wished he had a boy and at the fifth attempt he said "you will play football". My mum thought I'd grow out of it but no - I became more keen than ever.

What have been the high points in your career?
Playing for England - I've got five caps - I was in the squad for about five years so I was on the fringes of the team. Probably my first full England cap in Denmark was the single moment I'll remember most - I've never scored the winning goal in a cup final or anything like that.

What about goals for Saints?
Nope

No? What none?
Nope - I don't go up for corners that's my excuse - I'm the Gary Neville of the side.

Ever been sent off then?
Yep - two weeks ago actually. And twice before that.

More Stuart Pearce than Gary Neville then.
When I was playing for Liverpool against Millwall - about 1999 - the ref sent me off for a reckless tackle - and to this day I swear I got the ball.

What's your musical bent Sam - Last CD?
Anastascia's new one.

Big sunglasses
Yep - don't know much about her but I liked her last one - and I also bought The Red Hot Chilli Peppers live in Hyde Park.

What about the last gig you went to?
Madonna at Earls Court...... mega it was.

Are you Rich Tea or Jammy Dodger?
Oh Rich Tea - dunk it in my tea - northern thing probably.

Favourite Cereal?
Branflakes - and clusters sometimes.

What mixed up together in the same bowl?
No i dont mix.

What never?
No never. In fact it's my pre-match meal - Branflakes and toast and jam.

Tastey. What about the Saints Men's team. Do you have much do with them?
No not really - The club itself helps us with the kit and some financial help and the Academy and everything - but that's as far as it goes.

You don't get paid then?
No - to me its second nature - when I started out money or expenses just wasn't heard of. It's creeping in a little bit now but only in some of the Premier League clubs.

What about the league. It's not been a great start?
No it hasn't to be honest - especially compared to how we finshed last season - but we've lost the spine of the first team. We've lost about five players. But I think we'll be ok.

On that positive note Sam rejoined the first team, who were on the end of a fiery ticking off from coach Sue Lopez.

If you would like to know more about the Centre of Excellence, or the Southampton Saints Academy then please contact the manager Sue Lopez.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.