LI TIE can't go shopping in his home city of Liaoning, a 40-minute flight north of Beijing, without being mobbed by excited young fans.

But the 24-year-old midfielder cut an anonymous figure at Staplewood yesterday on his first day's training with Southampton as part of a ten-day trial on the south coast.

"My ambition is to play in the Premiership and it would be wonderful to play for Southampton," admitted China's footballer of the year.

"I have come here to see how things go, and if the club gives me a chance, I would love to play here."

Li is regarded as one of the most promising players in China, having won around 80 caps for his country, leading them to this summer's World Cup Finals.

He plays for C-League club Liaoning Fushun and was linked with Italian side Perugia earlier this season.

Li was accompanied by Sheffield-based Susan Tham, just one of two female FIFA-registered agents.

She did not know what transfer fee his club, two-time C-League runners-up for the past couple of seasons, would demand.

She said: "Tie is a very big star in China. Nike are one of his sponsors, and there are posters of him in the streets.

"He is like the David Beckham of China - he is on television quite a lot."

And Li, who is a right-footed central midfielder, himself admitted: "I have got a lot of fans back home. I don't go shopping a lot because I get mobbed."

The Chinese star arrived in Southampton on Sunday night after a ten-hour flight from Beijing.

He admitted he was tired, but enjoyed his first training session - the C-League season has just started and Li is match fit.

"I feel good. The pace of training was a bit faster than I am used to and a bit shorter - we train twice a day in China.

"I spent a few years in Brazil with the Chinese youth team. I speak some Portuguese, so I was able to chat to some of the Southampton players."

Manager Gordon Strachan said he was encouraged with what he had seen of Li.

"He did okay," said Strachan. "There was not a lot of coaching today, it was just a loosener.

"I saw him on the Asian football television highlights on Sky last week and he does not look too bad. We will have a look and see how it goes."

The club were first contacted by the player's representatives and promptly invited for a trial.

Strachan and chairman Rupert Lowe have until Thursday's transfer deadline to make a decision about the player.

Saints' Premiership clash with Everton on Saturday, April 20, has been switched to a 5.15pm kick-off after the game was snapped up by Sky's pay-per view for live screening.

Saints left-back Ryan Ashford has been released and was tonight expected to feature for Bristol Rovers reserves against QPR.