Saints reserve team coach Stewart Henderson is backing Jamie White to make a full recovery from his knee injury.
White, 17, suffered anterior ligament damage in his first training session with the first-team squad this week and is expected to be out for at least six months.
Henderson has been delighted with Southampton-born White's progress in the reserves this season, and reckons he will be back to his best by November.
He said: "It's a bad injury and is very unfortunate because it was such an innocuous challenge.
"Jamie's been excellent in the reserves, and that hadn't gone unnoticed by George Burley and Glynn Snodin.
"He's a very good prospect and will work hard to come back from this.
"There's no reason why he won't be back to his best come November, which will only be three months into next season."
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