Ken Mulhearn's so proud of Harry Lewis

Lewis, a talented shot-stopper just like his grandad, penned a three-year deal with the Premier League Saints this week after Town agreed to sell him.

The 17-year-old, from Radbrook, is one to watch with his potential already making him an England Under-18 international, having made his debut in Italy last year.

He kept a clean sheet on his final appearance in a Town shirt, when he helped the club's under-18s to a 2-0 win at Scunthorpe in the Youth Alliance Cup last weekend.

Mulhearn was a league title winner with Manchester City in 1968, before playing 370 league games for Shrewsbury.

He said: "For a club like Southampton to pay money for a lad of his age speaks volumes.

"He rang me to say that he had signed and I told him that I'm very proud of him. He's a homely lad, so he couldn't wish to go to a better club."

Mulhearn insisted that Shrewsbury had done a fine job in developing Lewis, who had been attached to the club since the age of eight.

Hes excited about the teenager's future, particularly now he will be working on a daily basis with England goalkeeping coach Dave Watson at Southampton.

Mulhearn said: "I know he's my grandson and I've always stayed in the background, but I know a goalkeeper when I see one and Harry's got the attributes to be very good.

"His attitude is exemplary, he's very unassuming and he's always willing to listen and learn. The Southampton goalkeeping coach is also the England goalkeeping coach.

"He's worked with Harry at England training camps so if he can see something in Harry that's great and hopefully he can go on and have a great future."

Lewis, who has yet to make his senior debut, signed a professional contract with Shrewsbury while he was still a 16-year-old pupil at the town's Meole Brace School.

Comparisons are inevitable with Joe Hart, another Meole and Town old-boy, but Lewis takes them in his stride.

He said: "Joe has come through the same club I have. We've sort of followed a similar route. It would be great to emulate what he's achieved.

"I think that's what every goalkeeper in England's trying to do, not just me. If I could get just a bit of what he's achieved, then that will be brilliant."