SAINTS legend Jim McCalliog has told the club's players to embrace the occasion - just as he did against Manchester United at Wembley in 1976.

The Scotland midfielder provided the pass for Bobby Stokes' winning goal against Manchester United 41 years ago - a decade after finishing on the losing side as a teenager with Sheffield Wednesday.

"Wembley’s a place where you have to rise to the occasion - if you don’t it will just pass you by," he said.

"I was only 19 when I played for Sheffield Wednesday against Everton. I scored early on and when we went 2-0 up in the second half - but lost 3-2.

"I remember coming out of the tunnel on my own after the game. I walked out on the pitch and told myself I had to go be back and get a different result."

Eleven months later, McCalliog scored a late winner against the world champions at Wembley as Scotland famously beat England 3-2.

Nine years later, he set up Stokes. 

"They need to think differently to how I did in 1966 and make sure it’s not in ten years' time but today that they beat United," he said.

"They have leave it all out on the field."

Saints were in the second division in 1976, but had vast experience.

"Micky Channon, Peter Osgood, Peter Rodriguez and myself had all played international football," continued McCalliog.

"United had [fellow Scotland internationals] Lou Macari and Martin Buchan but that was it.

"So we were pretty confident and Lawrie [McMenemy] was magnificent. He took us away from everything, there was no pressure.

"We did one press day where we gave the media everything they needed and then looked forward to the game.

"We were in great spirits and that's how the lads need to be on Saturday.

"I’ve got a big affection for Southampton.

"It’s a wonderful club that has had some fabulous people like Lawrie and Ted Bates, God bless his soul.

"I'm really chuffed they’re back at Wembley, but it’s more than 40 years since they last won some silverware.

"If you can't get up for this you can't get up for anything. Once they go over the line it's up to them."

McCalliog will watch the game on television at the bed and breakfast he runs with his wife Debbie in Ayrshire.

"Blackburn coped with United quite well on Sunday - and they are an awful team," he said. 

"Southampton are miles ahead of where they are.

"What we need is for the younger players to work really hard to stay on top of United and for the better players to perform.

"Blackburn made it very hard for United and had a few chances. The important thing is that we do the same because, with all due respect to Blackburn, we would usually expect to create a few more chances than them.

"[Manolo] Gabbiadini looks a bit different and we’ve got quite a few other forwards who can be a danger on the counter attack, like [Nathan] Redmond and Longy (Shane Long), who can run for fun."

Jim McCalliog hosts Legends of Football events, the next of which features Arsenal legend Charlie Nicholas and Bertie Auld, one of Celtic's Lisbon Lions, on April 13.