Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse are hoping to continue the Southampton success story this week as they prepare for England Under-21s’ Euro double header with Finland and San Marino.
The Saints pair have been regulars in Gareth Southgate’s squad this season and have also seen St. Mary’s team-mates Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana called-up to the England senior squad for this week’s games.
And after helping their club to third in the Premier League table it is understandable why Southampton are the talk of the English game.
“It was great for both me and Prowsey to get an Under-21 call-up, but when you had the three lads called up to the seniors, it was a great buzz,” said Shaw, whose performances at left-back have caught the eye.
“They fully deserve it, as they’ve been working hard and doing really well so hopefully they will take their chances and do well.”
Ward-Prowse added: “We get to see them day in and day out and you can see the hard work that they put in.
“So it was no surprise that they did get the call-up and there’s been a great buzz around training. We’re all really pleased for them.
“It’s weird to think that we’re not just part of a Premier League team, but we’re part of a Premier League team that is going places in the league and it’s great to be part of a team with great quality players as well.”
Both Ward-Prowse and Shaw emerged from the Southampton academy which has produced the likes of Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
They have known each other and played together since they were eight years old and are thoroughly at home with the south coast club.
And they believe the way in which they were schooled as youngsters has helped Southampton’s rise from League One to the Premier League.
“I think it was only three years ago that we were in League One, but we’ve built our team up again, come through the leagues and now we’re doing very well in the Premier League,” said Shaw.
“We’ve probably got the best youth system in the country, there’s me and Prowsey who have come through together and there’s Calum Chambers who has been doing well too.
“We’re doing well as a club at the moment, we’re in the top four and it’s great.”
Ward-Prowse added: “It’s just the belief we have in the academy. As youngsters, everybody knows that there is a pathway set there by the chairman.
“He knows he wants half of the first team to be academy players and we’ve got quite a few in there at the moment.
“It’s just up to us to work hard and get there.”
The pair can also see a similar pathway emerging at international level.
Shaw has previously featured for England U16s and U17s, while Ward-Prowse played for the U17s, U19s and U20 squads prior to his debut for the Under-21s in August.
And with their performances at Southampton putting them firmly in the spotlight, both players believe they can make a mark on Hodgson’s thoughts for the future.
“I think there’s a few in the Under-21s who could move up into the seniors and if they keep working hard at their clubs, they’ve got a very good chance,” admitted Shaw, with a knowing nod towards Ward-Prowse.
“But my focus is just on my football with my club and helping the Under-21s to qualify for the Euros.”
Ward-Prowse agrees with that philosophy: “I’m just concentrating on what I do day in-day out at the club and making sure I can contribute to Southampton, and if that goes well, then hopefully we can both be recognised.
“Roy Hodgson has put a lot of faith in youngsters so there are chances there, but we have to go out and perform for our clubs and if you can do that, you will get recognised.
“It’s great at the moment if you look at the potential and the quality in the Under-21s squad.
“We have got players who are playing week in and week out in the Premier League right now.
“Myself, Luke, Ravel Morrison and Nathan Redmond, we’re in and around one of the top leagues in the world and can only get better so I think in the next few years we can really contribute to English football.”
And with the current form of Southampton, there are not many who would argue with that.
