IT was a tough panel - but he took it in his stride.

Youngsters at a Southampton school put top Saints player Oriol Romeu to the test with a Q&A.

It was part of a bid to get the year four five and six pupils at Foundry Lane excited about learning.

Organised by Saints Foundation and authors of the Football School books - a series of books which use the beautiful game as a "gateway" to subjects as diverse as biology to drama - the one-off event saw the popular midfielder take take some tough questions from the floor.

Asking whether training has got tougher now Saints see themselves in the relegation zone he said: "sometimes more is less" and it's about making sure players are doing the right type of training. And when one child asked him which team he'd like to play for he diplomatically replied: "I'm very happy and wouldn't mind staying longer" but added that in an ideal world he would be back in Spain near family and friends.

Speaking to the Daily Echo before meeting the kids Oriol said he was keen to help children get excited about learning adding that his favourite author is Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, who he started reading at the age of 16.

The star also got involved with an an impromptu samba dance, and helped the children practise their drama skills.

Head teacher Sean Taylor said: "It's great to have real athletes here. Football is a popular theme with children and we have worked with Saints Foundation for while. Bringing along a Saints player makes it all the more exciting for the children."

One of the authors of the Football School books, Alex Bellos, is a former Cantell School pupil and said "it's great" to be back in the city.