#PLStories- #JamesWardProwse on adapting to his role as Saints skipper #SAINTS

JAMES Ward-Prowse feels age is merely a number when it comes to captaincy, as he approaches the end of his first year in the role. At 26, Ward-Prowse is the second youngest captain in the Premier League, behind only Jack Grealish. The Saints academy graduate took the armband from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in June of last year, after the Dane announced his intention to leave the club. Since, Ward-Prowse has played every minute for Saints and will hope to be part of Gareth Southgate's final 26-man England squad, due to be announced tomorrow. Speaking to The Super 6 podcast, Adam Lallana admitted being named Saints captain at such a young age was something that took some getting used to. Under Nigel Adkins, Lallana skippered the side at just 24-years-old, during the club's first season back in the Premier League, in 2012. "I was 24, I was so naive. I was captain but I didn't know what captain material was," Lallana said. "I was just being myself. "It was a little bit of a weight on my shoulders. It took me a year or so to adapt because subconsciously I thought I needed to do more on the pitch when I was captain, whereas you don't need to do any more. "I feel you just need to be yourself and that's enough. "I was trying to do too much and I gradually learned to deal with it and just ignored the armband." Asked if he feels age matters when it comes to captaincy, Ward-Prowse said: "I think it’s got to go to the right character, for sure. I don't believe that age matters at all. "I think it can be a little bit daunting sometimes if you are young and you’re trying to speak to an older player about certain things because he’s more experienced and he might know a little bit more about you. "But I think as a leader you have to trust in your abilities to lead. "You’ve been put in that position for a reason and you have to take that responsibility with courage and enjoy the role." Ward-Prowse is competing with fellow midfielders Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Jude Bellingham for a spot in Southgate's Euro 2020 squad.

Premier League Museum Admin June 1, 2021

James Ward Prowse

Adam Lallana said: “I was 24, I was so naive. I was captain but I didn’t know what captain material was. I was just being myself. It was a little bit of a weight on my shoulders. It took me a year or so to adapt because subconsciously I thought I needed to do more on the pitch when I was captain, whereas you don’t need to do any more. I feel you just need to be yourself and that’s enough. I was trying to do too much and I gradually learned to deal with it and just ignored the armband.”

Asked if he feels age matters when it comes to captaincy,

James Ward-Prowse said: “I think it’s got to go to the right character, for sure. I don’t believe that age matters at all. I think it can be a little bit daunting sometimes if you are young and you’re trying to speak to an older player about certain things because he’s more experienced and he might know a little bit more about you. But I think as a leader you have to trust in your abilities to lead. You’ve been put in that position for a reason and you have to take that responsibility with courage and enjoy the role.”

Ward-Prowse is competing with fellow midfielders Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Jude Bellingham for a spot in Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad.

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Premier League Museum Admin

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