KEN MULHEARN hopes his grandson Harry Lewis will have the chance to step into the FA Cup spotlight with Saints again this weekend.

Mulhearn, a title winner with Manchester City in 1968 before playing 370 league games for Shrewsbury Town, is so proud that Lewis has followed in his illustrious goalkeeping footsteps, writes STUART DUNN.

Mulhearn was in the stands when Lewis, 19, made his first team debut for Saints at Norwich City in the FA Cup third round earlier this month.

The Shrewsbury-born keeper was then selected for the replay and kept a clean sheet to help set up tomorrow’s fourth round clash against Arsenal at St Mary’s in front of the live BT Sport cameras.

Saints spotted his potential while he was playing in Shrewsbury’s youth team and handed him his first team debut just 16 months after signing him.

Lewis has regularly been on the bench for Saints this season, including in high profile matches against Inter Milan and Liverpool.

But Mulhearn said being told his grandson was going to start in place of England keeper Fraser Forster at Carrow Road was a special moment for the whole family.

“It took the wind right out of my sails when I found out he was playing at Norwich,” Mulhearn said.

“He’s played a couple of times for the first team abroad when they’ve been on tour in pre-season, but to actually play in the FA Cup third round was a big boost to him.

“He made a mistake which led to a penalty but it didn’t bother him and he came out and caught crosses after that.

“That gave me the encouragement that he’s got what it takes. He didn’t go in his shell and he didn’t hold back.

“For the coaches to then pick him for the replay was a big plus in his favour.”

As for the possibility of facing the Gunners, Mulhearn added: “I hope they will play him because he’s coming on in leaps and bounds - but it’s just a great experience for him to be involved with the first team.

“He gets on so well with the other goalkeepers at Southampton and when all’s said and done, he’s only just 19 - but he’s a mature 19 and is not over confident.

“I don’t want to praise him too much - but I think he’s better than me.”

Mulhearn admitted, as pleased as he was to be in the Carrow Road stands to watch Lewis’s debut, it was also a nervy experience.

“It was purgatory as I know the pitfalls.” he said. “I enjoyed it, of course I did, but I was on the edge of my seat all the time.

“My daughter said ‘dad, relax’, but I couldn’t. I’m 71 and it was a bit of a traumatic experience for me, but I hope I see a lot more of him.

“He’s got lots of games to come so I had better get used to it because I think I’ll be seeing a lot of him. I’ll just have to calm down.”

Mulhearn praised the role Shrewsbury Town played in Lewis’s development ahead of his switch to Saints.

He also revealed Lewis, who returns to the family home in Reabrook whenever his busy schedule allows, received a good luck message from England goalkeeper Joe Hart - a fellow Salopian - ahead of his first team debut.

Mulhearn said: “Harry’s got a real affinity for Shrewsbury, as Joe has. Joe got in touch with Harry before his debut at Norwich to wish him well.

“He went to the trouble to find out Harry’s number, so it’s really nice that he did that.”