Southampton boss Gordon Strachan has backed Matt Oakley to win an England call-up after his two goals sealed the FA Cup fourth round replay at Millwall.

Oakley struck twice in the 2-1 win after extra time at the New Den to rubbber-stamp a fifth round tie at home to Norwich City.

The 25-year-old product of the Saints' youth system had Strachan in raptures as he continued his outstanding season with two long-range strikes.

And he now believes he is ready for the international stage.

Strachan said: "If anyone deserves it it's Matthew Oakley. I don't think anyone apart from Frank Lampard at Chelsea has been as good as Oakley in the middle of the park.

"The fact that he hasn't got more goals is down to me because I use him in a holding role. That's my fault.

"He's a talented footballer. People talk about Wayne Bridge and James Beattie but he's been as good as them.

"They were terrific goals, absolutely terrific, and we needed it because our finishing didn't look that good."

Strachan is happy - despite appearances

Millwall manager Mark McGhee was a team-mate of Strachan's at Aberdeen and the Saints boss was also best man at his wedding.

But losing to Strachan did not make defeat any easier to bear.

He said: "The fact it's Gordon is totally irrelevant. It will cost him dinner, though, certainly.

"They edged it. At times we worked hard to contain them and we did for a long, long time. But on balance they deserved to go through."

McGhee even tipped Southampton to win the trophy, and admitted he would love to see his old friend go on to do just that.

He said: "I'd love Gordon to win it. Southampton have the ambition and I would expect them to have the ability to beat Norwich.

"They could end up having a run to the final playing only First Division teams."