Theo Walcott ‘feels like a kid again’ after shining as Southampton claim top spot

Theo Walcott insists he “feels like a kid again” after helping Southampton defeat Newcastle to move to the top of the Premier League.

Walcott, on his second home debut for Saints, provided the assist for Che Adams’ opener against the Magpies with a tremendous display of counter-pressing.

Stuart Armstrong grabbed the second after dominating Steve Bruce’s side, with victory taking them above Liverpool on goal difference. 

And Walcott is thrilled to be part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s revolution at St Mary’s after his recent move from Everton.  

“Look at my face, smiling, it's an absolute fantastic achievement for me as well, where it started for me, it shows if you work hard, the work is showing,” Walcott said on Sky Sports.

“It's well deserved tonight. I've got some great memories here and I want to make some new ones. I was very lucky to get this move.

“I just want to continue playing football, I feel like a kid again, the manager is showing faith in me and I think it shows.”

Walcott added it is an “honour” to be part of Hasenhuttl’s side and he is relishing the versatile role he is playing for Saints now, having played his third different role in three games.

"We're there [top of the league] by performances and it shows," Walcott added. “That's what we're doing from day one, we hunt in packs, we work together.

“We like to counter press, it just had to hit Che's foot, the power I put on it. I worried at 1-0, we dominated so much, but it shows the character we have.

“We have some leaders here as well, Stuart deserves it as well. It's nice to get three points, it's an absolute honour to be part of it as well.

“I'm a bruised man right now, it was the right decision [to not give a penalty for Lascelles’ challenge]. I felt it all.

“I've enjoyed every minute no matter where I'm playing, I've played three different positions in three games, for now I can fill the void [left by Danny Ings’ injury].

“I enjoy playing up front, the last time I played up front in a two it might have been with Ricardo Fuller or Kenwyn Jones.”

Hasenhuttl insists it’s “scary” what his team is achieving on the pitch.

“It’s amazing, congratulations to all my team,” Hasenhuttl told Sky Sports. “We can score more today, the rest was nearly perfect.

“Everybody was on the highest level. It's scary what we're doing at the moment. Not surprising. I see them working, it must come the moment where you see it in a Premier League game.

“Earlier we should close the game, it's possible. We lured them, played through the lines, it's fantastic to watch. We can make the last pass better, but it's criticism on a high level.

“It's not so easy to create a lot of chances for this team, it was amazing. The two guys in front, it was a good decision, Theo gives us speed, Che in the box, could score more.

“It's important that we show without Danny, we have the quality to score. He adapted very well, when you turn in the red zone, he has good technique, we have to work on the final finish.

“The game and workload he invests for us is amazing. I told the guys int he dressing room, we invested so much time together, we made big steps forward.

“We're a strong side, it's not a coincidence. We developed every side of the ball, with the ball, without the ball, transitions. It was a complete game.”

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