Saints youngsters not neglected – Ward-Prowse

James Ward-Prowse has said that it is harder than ever for youth players to try to make the grade at Southampton.

With the club looking like consistent European contenders now, it is becoming harder and harder for academy players to break into the first team and get into Ronald Koeman’s plans.

Ward-Prowse, who is a product of the Saints academy is the current beacon for the current Saints youth stars as he is a regular fixture in the Saints and England Under-21 side, and has been for the last few seasons.

The England under-21 captain has said the reason it is harder than ever to break through is because Southampton’s squad has increased in quality by leaps and bounds since their return to the Premier League.

Here is what Ward-Prowse had to say about youngsters breaking through into the first team set-up.

With the quality so high in the first team now than it’s probably ever been, it’s even more of a struggle for younger players because they have to be in and around that level.

But that’s part of football. It is not going to be easy to break into a men’s senior first team. So the challenge is there, but having known the youth team they are all good lads.

They will all be relishing that challenge.

I think they are [in Koeman’s mind], yeah, the manager’s very keen and he showed it last year.

He wants to promote those younger players and I think it’s just a case of the youngsters taking their chances when and if they get their chance.

It’s a club that’s produced many, many young players and I don’t think the club will ever forget that and they’ll want to continue that for now and the future

What current Saints youth players do you think could possibly make their way into the Southampton side and Koeman’s plan in the coming season?