After two seasons of ignorance to the youth players from Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel has restored the “Southampton Way” of giving the younger prospects chances in the first team.
One of Puel’s policies is his well-known experience of bringing through younger players and solidifying them into the first-team of the clubs he has managed; a policy which earned him the job at St.Mary’s.
Coaching the likes of Thierry Henry, Alexandre Lacazette and Eden Hazard, Puel certainly has a good track record for players that have turned into world-class footballers. His methods have seemed to be a success as five Southampton youngsters have earned their first first-team appearances over the course of the season and have integrated themselves into the squad, so a positive season next term should be all but guaranteed.
Here is a look at the five players who have come through the youth ranks and finally reached their goal of playing for Southampton’s first-team.
