Saints fan Cargill's Pompey snub

But the lifelong Southampton fan insisted turning out for the Blues would always have been ‘a last resort’.

Cargill is set to feature for Bournemouth tomorrow after joining them in 2008, following his release from St Mary’s as a youngster.

The 20-year-old explained the Blues were keen to bring him in, but he had little desire in making the move.

Cargill, speaking to the Bournemouth Echo, said: ‘I played in a trial game for Portsmouth and remember it quite well.

‘The weather was horrible but I scored a couple of goals and they were really keen to sign me.

‘I waited to see what else was on. If it was literally my last option, I would have gone there but it was not what I wanted to do.

‘I wanted to play for Southampton, my family were Saints fans and it was a bit of a boyhood dream.

‘When I was a kid, I was a proper fan. I had a season ticket and went to most of the away games, but since turning professional I haven’t been to many.

‘My family are still mad on Saints and go all the time but Bournemouth is in my heart.

‘I would have gone to Portsmouth if I had not been offered anything else, but there has always been that big rivalry so I think it would have been a last resort.’

Despite not being a fan of Pompey, Cargill expects a stiff challenge from Paul Cook’s side tomorrow.

He noted how the Blues have fared well against Championship sides this season and will be well backed.

‘In some respects, I think it will be bigger than the Birmingham game in the last round,’ he said.

‘There will be more fans there and Portsmouth’s players might be more up for it than Birmingham were because it will be a big deal to play a Premier League team.

‘They might be three divisions below us but they have some good quality which they have showed by playing Ipswich twice and not losing.’