Southampton midfielder and England under-21 captain James Ward-Prowse has expressed his delight at how manager Claude Puel has arrived at the club with an ethos of developing the younger players, the Daily Echo have reported.

He (Puel) made it clear on the first day he was here that it was the case that the pathway is there for young players. He said that they (the young players) have just got to come on and take their opportunity and impress when they can. It’s pleasing to see that. The club is based on that. I’ve gone through that process myself, so to see that the club are continuing to do that is great.

Ward-Prowse has featured fairly regularly for Saints this season in what has been a fairly transitional campaign so far. The odds on Saints to win the Premier League may be low but with the south coast club now competing in the Europa League, there’s plenty to play for.

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The 21-year-old midfield starlet came off the bench to score Saints’ third against West Ham on Sunday and his first ever Premier League goal from open play in the comprehensive 3-0 victory at the London Stadium.

It’s important. It’s an ethos that the club have had and it’s something that the club need to continue.

It’s brought a lot of success on the pitch and for all the lads and it’s great to have fellow academy graduates on the pitch with me as well.

Puel has a glittering reputation for developing the younger players from clubs’ academies, nurturing them and enhancing their potential.

Wherever he has been, he has put an emphasis on giving the youngsters a chance and he has not yet been let down by this philosophy, with the likes of Thierry Henry and Eden Hazard all bursting onto the scene under his tuition in some senses.