Antonio wants longer Saints stay (From Daily Echo)

Antonio wants longer Saints stay

8:30am Tuesday 10th November 2009

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Teenager Michail Antonio wants to extend his loan move beyond January after his outstanding second half at Bristol Rovers helped Saints into the FA Cup second round.

The Reading loanee made his first start for the club in the dramatic 3-2 win at the Memorial Stadium last Friday night after Alan Pardew switched to a 4-4-2 system.

Antonio, 19, showed blistering pace, awareness and a cool head in making the second goal for David Connolly and scoring the third himself – his first ever senior professional goal.

Now Antonio wants to become a regular in Pardew’s side – starting by keeping his place for tomorrow’s Sky-televised Johnstone’s Paints Trophy area quarter final tie against Charlton Athletic at St Mary’s.

The former Tooting & Mitcham player said: “It was great to get a win and make it to the next round of a very special competition.

“It also felt good to score my first goal for Southampton.

“I’m over the moon and very happy.

“Every time I’ve come on I’ve affected the game in some way and I can see the manager likes me.

“I’m here till January and will be happy to stay longer if the manager wants me to stay.”

Full story in today’s Southern Daily Echo.

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