Saints youngster Oscar Gobern has become the latest player to sign a professional contract.

The 17-year-old, whose older brother Lewis plays for Wolves, has caught the eye of Jan Poortvliet and featured in pre-season matches at Farnborough, Winchester City and Eastleigh.

Now he is contract to Saints until 2011.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been offered a pro contract. I’ve always loved this club and I’m happy that I have been given a chance to show what I can do.

“I’m grateful to Jan Poortvliet, Mark Wotte, Dave Hockaday and Stewart Henderson for all their help and guidance and now I just want to push on and get as close as I can to the first team.”

Gobern is currently sidelined by a groin strain but is hoping to be back very shortly.

“I’ve had a little niggle since the start of the season, so I’m just taking a rest period to give it a chance to recover. It’s been a hectic few months since the new management team came in, but I’m very grateful to have been given my chance,” he said.

Academy manager Matt Crocker added: “Oscar has worked hard and had a difficult first year with us due to injury. He had a fantastic opportunity at the start of this season to show what he could do and he took it, and has now been rewarded for that.

“He’s mentally strong too, and this is now where the hard work starts.

“All the other lads in the academy will also have to work hard to prove themselves to the manager, but it’s fantastic that Jan Poortvliet is recognising and rewarding young talent at the club, and it’s obviously a massive incentive to the rest of the lads.”