WITH Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster both struggling with injuries, the gloves in Saints’ goal could now fall to third-choice stopper Harry Lewis.

The 23-year-old has been with the south coast side since signing with the club’s youth academy from Shrewsbury in 2015, when he was just 17 years of age.

Lewis arrived at Saints having played for England at both under-16 and under-18 level.

Speaking to the club website at that time, he said: “I think it was a no-brainer really for me to make this move. I’ve been at Shrewsbury since I was eight and it is my hometown club. I’m always going to be close to them but when an opportunity like this comes around you don’t say no.

“I’m here to get better as a footballer and get as many chances as I can. That’s the most important thing for me.”

Daily Echo:

(Picture: Matt Watson/Southampton FC)

Lewis worked his way up the ranks with Saints, impressing for the club’s under-18 team before making his senior debut in the FA Cup in January 2017.

The stopper played in both third round ties of an FA Cup clash with Norwich.

In the first meeting, Lewis miscontrolled a backpass from Virgil van Dijk on his debut and then gave away a penalty, meaning his side could only draw 2-2 at Carrow Road.

Daily Echo:

Ironically, speaking to the Daily Echo after that game, boss Claude Puel revealed Lewis stepped up with Alex McCarthy injured on that occasion.

He said: “It’s important to say he made two good saves.

“It’s interesting and it’s a pity for him to make this mistake, but it was important to see Harry play.

“We have Alex McCarthy out with injury and it’s important to give him game time and develop all the young players, like Harry Lewis also.”

Lewis did however keep a clean sheet in the following 1-0 victory at St Mary’s, which earned Puel’s men progression.

Saints were however thumped 5-0 by Arsenal in the fourth round with Lewis in goal that season – his most recent senior game for the club.

Daily Echo:

If selected for Premier League action next weekend, Lewis could once again be going toe-to-toe with the Gunners.

The keeper’s other only senior experience came in Scotland while on loan at Dundee United during the 2017-18 campaign.

He played 39 times in all competitions, guiding United to a third-placed Scottish Championship finish and just missing out in the play-off semi-finals.

Since then, he has only featured for Saints’ under-23s, now known as the B team, meaning he has not played at senior level since May 2018.