THEO WALCOTT scored his first goal for Southampton in almost 15 years to help the team draw at Wolverhampton 1-1 in the English Premier League on Monday.

The on-loan Everton forward netted for the visitors for the first time since January 2006, early in his first spell for the south-coast club, to give them the lead in the 58th minute at Molineux.

Pedro Neto came off the bench to equalize in the 75th, turning in a rebound after Raul Jimenez’s shot came off the post.

Southampton missed the chance to climb into the Premier League’s top four, and stayed fifth.

Walcott, who has scored for 14 straight seasons in the top division, missed a great chance to make it 2-0 but Southampton ended up being indebted to goalkeeper Alex McCarthy after his two saves off Daniel Podence following an earlier double save from Nelson Semedo and Leander Dendoncker.

Wolves climbed to ninth place, and games against Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa before Christmas give them the opportunity to rubber-stamp their European credentials.

Center back Conor Coady missed his first league game for the hosts since September 2017 as he continued to self-isolate due to coronavirus protocols.

The marker was the 125th of Walcott’s senior career, which has been spread between the Saints, Gunners, and Everton.

It also marked the 14th-straight Premier League season in which Walcott has bagged at least one goal since opening his top-flight account for Arsenal in 2008.

“You’re making me feel quite old now,” Walcott said when asked how he felt about that. “I’m only 31 now but like I said I feel like a kid again. It means a lot to play at the highest level for this long as well. I just love the Premier League, like everyone now, and I love playing football and that’s what I want to do.”

Walcott could’ve had it 2-0 when he raced into the right of the box but dragged his low shot wide of the far post.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted that the miss will bother the 31-year-old, but praised the veteran for his work ethic.

“It was a good first goal for him,” Hasenhuttl said. “He’s a little unhappy he didn’t make the second one and that he couldn’t be the matchwinner. The way he works for the team is amazing. As a number 10 or a striker you can trust him. He’s an experienced guy who comes back to the club where he grew up. It means something to him. Maybe that’s why he invests so much. You know you have to do that in our team.”

Meanwhile, Burnley claimed its first win of the season as Chris Wood’s eight minute goal gave the side a 1-0 win at home to Crystal Palace.

The Clarets’ first goal in over 300 minutes at their Turf Moor stadium was enough to lift Sean Dyche’s side above Fulham and out of the relegation zone with five points from nine matches.

Earlier in the weekend, Tottenham moved to the top of the table after a 2-0 win at home to Manchester City, while Liverpool went second with a 3-0 triumph against Leicester City.

(SD-Agencies)