By Phil McNulty Chief football writer

BBC Young Sports Personality

Theo Walcott has inherited Wayne Rooney's mantle as English football's most exciting teenage talent - and the baggage that comes with the title.

Like Rooney, Southampton's Walcott has emerged in an explosion of high-profile publicity as a 16-year-old with the world at his feet.

He has been scoring goals that automatically grab the attention, the latest being a brilliant winner for Saints in their 1-0 victory against Luton on Sunday.

And, like Rooney, his potential and performances have attracted the attention of the biggest clubs in England, who are poised to fight it out for this hot property - if Southampton give the nod.

Chelsea have been linked with an �8m move for the young striker they let slip through their fingers.

The Stamford Bridge club spotted Walcott at a junior tournament and offered him a deal, as well as taking him to a game and making him a ball boy.

But Southampton's personal touch won the day - and if Chelsea want him back they will have to pay handsomely for the privilege.

Now Arsenal are also being touted with a possible move for Walcott in the January transfer window.

But Southampton caretaker manager Dave Bassett told BBC Sport he is confident Walcott will not be blinded by the spotlight or the speculation.

He said: "Theo is a really nice kid. He comes into the club and he is very level-headed. He has got a nice smile and is obviously doing very well at his football.

"As for his game, he is a very quick, lively player who has come on the scene and really brightened the landscape."

Southampton caretaker boss Bassett admires Walcott's approach

Walcott is a boy making his way in a man's world but Bassett is delighted with his progress.

And a sign of Walcott's growing prominence was that he was a contender to win the BBC's coveted Young Sports Personality of the Year award for 2005.

Bassett added: "He has done very well. He has handled everything extremely well. There have been no problems at all and he has dealt with it more than comfortably.

"Some young lads can get a bit lairy and let it all go to their head and start to think they are more important, or better, than they are - but that hasn't been the case with Theo."

And Bassett paid tribute to the men behind Southampton's youth system, who have nurtured Walcott since he arrived at the club.

He said: "He has been brought up well and there are people here who have looked after him and guided him in the youth academy, people like Hugh Jennings and Stewart Henderson."

Despite Walcott's early success, Bassett is already on the look-out for signs indicating when the forward may need to be pulled out of the firing line.

He said: "What we have to remember are the physical demands being placed on a 16-year-old in a very competitive league and also on the mental side but, so far, there have been no great problems.

"There may be times when he needs to be rested but there was only one game recently, away at Wolves, where I felt he was out of sorts and looked like a young boy playing in a man's game.

"Other than that he has been fine, particularly in games against Burnley and the other day against Luton.

Theo is a very quick, lively player who has come on the scene and really brightened the landscape Southampton caretaker manager Dave Bassett

"So until something happens, he may surprise us all - and tiredness or a need to rest him will not be a problem."

Ryan Giggs was shielded from publicity by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, while Rooney was handled in a similar fashion by David Moyes at Everton.

Bassett will do things his own way and he explained: "I don't copy other people. I deal with each individual and deal with them in the way I think is correct.

"I have been around a long while and had people like Dennis Wise, Glyn Hodges and Alan Cork in my squad when they were 18. I have been used to dealing with young players and the three I mentioned all had long and successful careers."

And Bassett is confident Walcott will enjoy similar success, barring the accidents that can occasionally happen in football.

He said: "He must have quite a rosy future because of what he is already doing at 16. If he develops, learns, concentrates and progresses, all sorts of things can happen for him.