Theo Walcott is looking forward to playing on the right with Kyle Walker-Peters

Theo Walcott seems to reciprocate the excitement the vast majority of Southampton fans showed upon the announcement of his return to the club after 15 years away.

Now back at Saints as a Premier League veteran, Walcott may be charged with taking some players from Southampton’s youthful squad under his wing.

However, the former England international has already said that one player had already caught his eye - Kyle Walker-Peters.

Walcott says he’s excited to play on the right side of the pitch in front of the young defender Saints signed on a permanent deal in the summer.

“I am rooming with Kyle [Walker-Peters] at the moment and he is a very honest and good kid,” Walcott said before Southampton’s clash with Chelsea on the weekend. “He wants to work hard and, with him on the right and me on the right, we are already getting a good relationship going.”

“From what I have seen of him on the training pitch, he is a grafter who wants to do well. He turned his loan spell into a permanent move and that has worked out really well for him.

“He has big ambitions. He wants to play for England and this will be a big season for him and he has impressed me.

“I have had my eye on a couple of the others players too but it’s Kyle who has really stood out to me.”

Walker-Peters has impressed as one of Southampton’s main creative outlets since first signing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur last season - despite playing a defensive role.

If Walcott can play anywhere near his best with Walker-Peters in support, Saints could look very dangerous on that side of the pitch.