Sam Gallagher hailed the “unbelievable” feeling of scoring the winning goal in the Under-21 Premier League Cup final after coming through many setbacks.

Gallagher made his comeback in February from a serious knee injury, but put those frustrations behind him last night when he scored a superb extra-time winner to beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at St Mary’s last night.

“Unbelievable, that’s all I can really think to say,” beamed Gallagher.

“I was thinking throughout the game it would be nice to get one and to get in the way I did was quite special.

“I’ve had a long injury that’s put me back quite a bit this season, so it feels like it (the season) has just started, but it’s coming to an end.

“We’ve got the league to come now so hopefully we can do well in that and crack on.”

In front of more than 12,000 noisy Saints fans, Gallagher and his team-mates won the club’s first piece of youth silverware since 2006.

“There’s an amazing pride for the whole squad and the fans,” said Gallagher.

“You don’t expect to get 12,000 for an under-21 game, which shows how much it means to the whole club.

“It felt like a first team game out there tonight.

“The atmosphere was amazing.”

Nine of Martin Hunter’s under-21 side have had experience of first team action.

That is something that gave the youngsters an advantage in the 19-year-old’s eyes.

“Quite a few of our boys have had experience with the first team so that helped us tonight in front of a big crowd,” he said.

Manager Ronald Koeman was present to watch Gallagher, who made several appearances under Mauricio Pochettino, slam a gloriously struck winner from the edge of the box.

He was pleased to get the opportunity to show his skills.

“I know they (the first team staff) sort of watch all the under-21 games, so you always know you’ve got to impress and do what you can to get in the first team,” he said. “Hopefully he (Koeman) enjoyed that one.”