James Ward Prowse
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #JamesWardProwse says Saints are progressing this season #SAINTSFC

September 21, 2021
SKIPPER James Ward-Prowse insists Saints are on the right path this season, despite the wait for their first Premier League win continuing. Ralph Hasenhuttl's men have faced a tough fixture schedule so far, drawing four and losing one of their opening five matches. From the corresponding fixtures last season, Saints picked up just one point. However, they have bettered that tally so far, with impressive draws against Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as taking a point at Newcastle United. Saints will be seeking their first top-flight win of the campaign this weekend when they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to St Mary's, another fixture they lost last season. Asked if he feels picking up points against both Manchester clubs shows Saints are on the right path, Ward-Prowse told the Daily Echo: "I think these are games last season that we would’ve lost. "We would’ve given a sloppy goal away or switched off for a moment. "But you can sense a change in the team in the way that we’re playing now. It’s definitely progressive and exciting to be part of." Reflecting on the goalless draw at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Ward-Prowse added: "I’m absolutely delighted. I think it all started off with a really good start to the week. "We had great preparation in terms of different formations, different styles and what we wanted to get out of the game. "To see that preparation pay off and get through the game with an important point says a lot about the progression that we’ve made." Saints became the first side since Manchester United in March to stop City scoring in a home match. Add to that the fact Pep Guardiola's superstars had notched 16 goals in their previous three Etihad fixtures this season, to restrict the hosts to just one shot on target all afternoon was mightily impressive from Ralph Hasenhuttl's charges. "You know coming here you’re going to need a brilliant game plan," explained Ward-Prowse. "You’re going to need desire, you’re going to need a little bit of luck as well. "I think we earned that luck and we showed great progression in terms of our defensive manners and the way we performed, so we can come away very happy."
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl admits he could not watch #JamesWardProws penalty #SAINSTFC

August 29, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl admits he has still not seen James Ward-Prowse's dramatic late penalty at St James's Park. Saints were awarded a spot-kick deep into second-half stoppage time when Adam Armstrong went down under the challenge of Jamaal Lascelles. Ward-Prowse stepped up and duly converted to earn his side a 2-2 draw. But Hasenhuttl says he could not bring himself to watch the late drama. Discussing Ward-Prowse's composure from the spot, Hasenhuttl said: "At first I was happy I had Reddy (Nathan Redmond) from the bench who made this super pass and Adam who was running deep. "We were still believing and finally a captain who takes the responsibility and makes a good penalty. "One I haven’t seen so far, but I’ve heard that it was good!" Asked about the award of the penalty, which was given after referee Paul Tierney went to consult the pitchside monitor, Hasenhuttl added: "I have seen it and it is a clear penalty, absolutely clear. Mike Dean was the VAR and he couldn’t say no that it wasn’t a penalty. "It was otherwise a clear goal chance. He (Lascelles) didn’t take the ball, so there was no chance to kick the ball. It was a clear penalty for me, yes."
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl reveals his confidence that #JamesWardProwse will stay with Southampton #SAINTSFC

August 21, 2021
MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted he never thought James Ward-Prowse could leave Saints – and believes he is on the path to become a legend at the club. Ward-Prowse on Thursday committed his future to the south coast side by signing a fresh five-year contract to remain at St Mary’s. It put an end to speculation over his future, with the Daily Echo understanding Saints turned down a £25million bid from Aston Villa for him last month. Hasenhuttl saw the likes of Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard exit St Mary’s to Villa and Leicester respectively. But the Austrian boss explained how Ward-Prowse, who also signed a long-term contract in 2020, was a different scenario. Quizzed about his captain’s new deal, the manager said: “I have never had the thought he could leave us to be honest. “It is the completely different situation to Ings and Vestergaard where we knew that the power was moving to the player.” Asked whether getting Ward-Prowse to sign fresh terms also sent a statement that Saints could keep their best players, Hasenhuttl replied: “Definitely, yes. “As we said, we are a club that develops players and we will always be a club that also sells players at some point and we always will be in the future. “But this also happens to the very big clubs, so it is not about that we are at the other end of this level. “This is okay, sometimes it is hard for the fans to see players leave. For me also, I would like to have Danny here for the next five years here. “But sometimes players decide to make the next step and not to decide to be a legend for the club and when you have to accept that as a manager then you must keep on going. “There are new players coming in and hopefully you have the right choice and then you bring a new one in and he is a new hero for the fans.” Ward-Prowse has already made 323 first-team appearances for Saints, becoming only the 28th player in club history, and the 19th of the post-war era, to surpass 300 games. Earlier this year he became the first midfielder in Premier League history to complete successive seasons without missing a minute of action. Quizzed on whether Ward-Prowse is, or could be, a Saints legend, the manager said: “Yes, he decided to go this way. “That doesn't mean that he stays here forever but when you are that long at a club you get a special position in the club and in the heart of the fans. “I think this is sometimes what players don't see, you can earn a lot of money anywhere but you have seldom chance to become a legend I think. “When you have this chance, it is too often not important enough for the players anymore, maybe this was a little bit different in the past.” Ward-Prowse is expected to feature when the St Mary’s side face Manchester United on Sunday (2pm).
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #JamesWard-Prowse signs new five-year deal at Southampton FC #SAINTSFC

August 20, 2021
SAINTS captain James Ward-Prowse has signed a fresh five-year deal at St Mary’s and insisted: “I still have a lot left to give to this football club.” Speculation had been rife about the England midfielder’s future this summer. The Daily Echo understands Aston Villa submitted a £25million bid which was rejected by the south coast side last month. But the 26-year-old midfielder today put pen-to-paper on the fresh deal, which strengthens an allegiance to Saints that stretches all the way back to when he was in the academy at eight. Ward-Prowse said: “I’m over the moon. I think I’m probably the happiest man in the world right now. To come to this decision, I think has been massive and is a big step forward. “To commit my future again to this football club is something I’m incredibly proud of and a new chapter begins now for me. “It’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve had that link away and that talk, but I think I was very keen to sit down and talk to the club and it’s worked both ways; they’ve sat down and told me their admiration for me and the way they want me to lead the team – and this club has done so much for me, I can’t put into the words the opportunities and chances that they’ve given me and I’m incredibly grateful for the club for doing that. “I’m not finished yet here, I still have a lot left to give to this football club and I want to be there leading this team and ensuring I can give everything back and repay that faith the club have shown in me since I was eight-years-old.” Ward-Prowse has already made 323 first-team appearances for Saints, becoming only the 28th player in club history, and the 19th of the post-war era, to surpass 300 games. Earlier this year he became the first midfielder in Premier League history to complete successive seasons without missing a minute of action. Ward-Prowse played 90 minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park and is set to start in the St Mary’s season opener against Manchester United on Sunday.
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl says #JamesWardProwse will be fit to feature against Everton #SAINTSFC #EVERTONFC

August 13, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed skipper James Ward-Prowse had been in training with Saints all week and would be available for selection at Everton on Saturday. The England midfielder has been struggling with a knee problem which had prevented him playing in the St Mary’s side’s pre-season games. But Hasenhuttl confirmed the England midfielder would be fit to face the Toffees in their season opener at Goodison Park. Asked about Ward-Prowse ahead of the trip to Merseyside, Hasenhuttl said: “He is going to be okay. “He trained for the whole week and I am looking forward to having him back on Saturday.” Only youngster Will Smallbone remains out for Hasenhuttl’s side with a long-term knee injury at present. Assessing the squad as a whole, the Austrian boss said: “Everybody is fit. After this hard and tough pre-season, this is a good signal. “We worked good with them, had a good balance with pushing them hard and also recovering in the right moments. “The worst you can get is if you are training very hard for four or five weeks and then get an injury in the last week, so touch wood, that did not happen.”
Kyle Walker Peters
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #KyleWalkerPeters wants Saints to keep hold of ‘top player’ #JamesWardProwse #SAINTSFC

August 2, 2021
FULL-BACK Kyle Walker-Peters admitted it was hard for him to comment on the rejected bid for Saints skipper James Ward-Prowse but added: “Of course, I hope he stays.” The Daily Echo understands Saints turned down a £25million offer for their captain from Aston Villa, with transfer speculation having linked Ward-Prowse to the Birmingham side all summer. And while Walker-Peters admitted “teams are always going to be looking” at the England midfielder, he is hopeful the 26-year-old remains at St Mary’s. Put to the defender that Saints would want to keep hold of their best players amid the interest in Ward-Prowse, Walker-Peters replied: “Yeah. It’s hard for me to speak on that, obviously. “Prowsey is a top player, teams are always going to be looking at him but that’s down to the club. “Of course, I hope he stays.” Ward-Prowse has been on the books at Saints since the age of eight and made 322 senior appearances for the south coast club in all competitions. He signed a fresh five-year contract with Saints 12 months ago. The Daily Mail this weekend reported Villa will make another effort to sign Ward-Prowse in the coming days. A knee injury had kept the midfielder out of Saints’ two friendly fixtures against Cardiff and Swansea, during the team’s pre-season trip to Wales. But Walker-Peters insisted both the club captain and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl had been working on gelling the squad together, ahead of the new campaign. He added: “I think we had that unity anyway but the gaffer and Prowsey have made sure we keep that unity and keep gelling as a squad, even off the pitch. “It (the trip) has been great. It’s been good to get minutes against some good teams but the main thing is working on how the gaffer wants us to play and we are slowly getting there, slowly getting better."
Stuart Armstrong Southampton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl taking ‘no risk’ over #StuartArmstrong or #JamesWardProwse #SAINTSFC

July 29, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl confirmed minor injuries ruled out both James Ward-Prowse and Stuart Armstrong from Tuesday night's win over Cardiff, insisting: "We don't take any risk." Saints stepped up their pre-season preparations with a 4-0 thrashing of the Bluebirds, thanks to a Che Adams brace, after goals from Theo Walcott and Moussa Djenepo. But they were without two of last season's standout performers. Captain Ward-Prowse was present at Cardiff City Stadium to watch the side, but neither he nor Armstrong featured. Quizzed on the pair's absence and whether they could return for Saturday's trip to Swansea, Hasenhuttl told BBC Radio Solent: "We must have a look. With Prowsey we have to be patient because I don’t want to risk anything with the knee, if we do not need to. "He can play immediately when he is fit. "And it is also good for Ibra (Diallo), because he can get a little bit more game time. (On Tuesday) I think he showed some very good things. "The season is long. We have massive games coming up and we must prepare as good as possible." With both Ward-Prowse and Armstrong missing, and Will Smallbone still recovering from long-term injury, Diallo and Oriol Romeu played the full 90 minutes at Cardiff, with only teenager Ryan Finnigan on the bench as backup. "Prowsey has a little bit problems with the knee," confirmed Hasenhuttl in a later interview. "We don't take any risk, give him time to recover and Stuey the same. Maybe he (Armstrong) will be back tomorrow (Wednesday) on the pitch and then we can look for Saturday if they are available."
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #JamesWardProwse still has Euro 2020 chance after #TrentAlexanderArnold forced to pull out of England squad #SAINTSFC

June 5, 2021
SAINTS skipper James Ward-Prowse still has a chance for a late England Euro 2020 call-up after Trent Alexander-Arnold was ruled out of the tournament. The Liverpool defender suffered a thigh injury in Wednesday’s friendly win over Austria. Alexander-Arnold limped off in the closing stages of the 1-0 victory, with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate offering a grim prognosis immediately after the game. His fears were realised when scans revealed the extent of Alexander-Arnold’s injury – with the Football Association confirming his withdrawal on Thursday. “Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of UEFA EURO 2020,” a statement said. “The Liverpool player sustained a thigh injury in the closing stages of Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Austria in Middlesbrough. “A scan on Thursday confirmed the 22-year-old will be unable to play in the forthcoming tournament so he has withdrawn from the England squad to return to his club for rehabilitation. “Gareth Southgate will not confirm a replacement until after Sunday’s return to the Riverside Stadium for the warm-up fixture against Romania.” Ward-Prowse is now one of the five outfield players on standby waiting to discover if they will be selected to replace Alexander-Arnold in the squad. Defenders Ben White and Ben Godfrey, who both made their debuts off the bench against Austria, as well as Jesse Lingard and Ollie Watkins are the others who Southgate can call upon. Saints skipper Ward-Prowse and the other players in contention to make the squad could still feature in Sunday’s warm-up fixture against Romania. “All the (omitted) players are going to stay with us through to the end of Sunday’s game anyway,” Southgate said. “Obviously we’ll make an assessment on the whole squad once we’ve got through that game. “I’m very conscious we’ve got another 90 minutes to get through and that alone is a bit of a challenge for us, really.” England face Croatia in Group D of the tournament on Sunday, June 13. They are then set to take on Scotland on Friday, June 18 and Czech Republic on June 22. All three of their group fixtures are at Wembley.
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #GarethSouthgate explains why #JamesWardProwse is left out of England Euro 2020 squad #SAINTSFC

June 2, 2021
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate admitted “you never want to give bad news” after James Ward-Prowse was cut from his Euro 2020 squad. The Saints skipper was one of seven names to be trimmed down from the original 33-man group, as the Three Lions finalised their final 26-man party for this summer’s tournament. Ward-Prowse had been regarded as an important figure in the Three Lions setup, and a regular in recent squads. But reports surfaced on Sunday that the 26-year-old would not make the cut for the final squad, set to compete in this summer’s tournament. His fate was confirmed as England’s final squad was finalised hours before UEFA’s deadline for submissions. Mason Greenwood withdrew from selection due to injury, while the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Ben Godfrey, Ben White, Jesse Lingard and Ollie Watkins were also not selected. Ward-Prowse could however still feature in England’s friendly with Austria at Middlesbrough tomorrow night, as well as Sunday’s showdown against Romania. Asked how tough it was to leave out the seven men cut from the group, Southgate said: “You never want to give bad news. “Anybody that’s been in a leadership position – it’s lovely to give people debuts, it’s lovely to bring people into the squad for the first time. It’s much harder to deliver difficult news. “With the lads this time, there were three of the boys who really knew they were coming in for the experience of training with us – they are with us for these two matches and who knows what might happen? “They have trained really well and we are really pleased with Ben Godfrey, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale. They have added a lot to the group. “Mason Greenwood unfortunately had to pull out on Friday. We knew he wasn’t a contender over the past few days. “For me personally, it was very difficult to speak with Jesse (Lingard), who has given so much for England, performed so well for England over a long period of time. James Ward-Prowse who has been our captain with the under-21s and then Ollie Watkins who has had a tremendous season with Aston Villa. “Those three, I gave them the option of going home if they wanted to, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay – they wanted to be part of the group – they know they will be involved in these two matches. “Their commitment has been exemplary and their professionalism has been brilliant. It meant that yesterday (Monday) afternoon, when I had the conversations with those players – although they were disappointed, they knew where they stood. “It’s meant that the atmosphere around the camp has stayed positive and very relaxed.” Ward-Prowse went into the England camp having played every minute in the Premier League for the past two seasons. He also netted his first senior international goal in March, during a 5-0 World Cup Qualifying win over San Marino. Southgate added: “I think every squad is difficult because we have a lot of talented players in this country. “The most difficult thing is to not be able to take players who’ve been with us in previous matches and who are such good professionals. “So, I know what a disappointment that is for them at the moment not to be going to a major championship. “But we still have two friendlies to get to, and there’s been plenty of examples over the years where there have been injuries in those friendlies that have ruled people out. “So, there’s still time for those guys even though they’re not in at this moment in time."
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

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

June 1, 2021
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.
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl and #GarethSouthgate heaps praise on #JamesWardProwse as he wins Saints Player of the Season award #SAINTSFC

May 27, 2021
SUPER skipper James Ward-Prowse has been named the Daily Echo Saints Player of the Season for the 2020-21 campaign. The midfielder sealed top spot in the online vote from Echo readers, with 46 per cent in total. He was ahead of Stuart Armstrong (32 per cent) with Kyle Walker-Peters (nine per cent) rounding off the top three. Ward-Prowse was ever-present for Saints in the top flight this season, becoming the only midfielder in the Premier League to feature for the entirety of two campaigns. Of Saints’ players this term, Ward-Prowse made more passes and had more touches of the ball than anyone else. Only Walker-Peters made more tackles than the England midfielder. Across the 38 games, Ward-Prowse scored eight times and provided seven assists. In winning the award, he follows in the footsteps of recent winners, Oriol Romeu, Alex McCarthy and Nathan Redmond. Mick Channon was the first recipient of the prize in 1974. The award seals an impressive double for the 26-year-old, who also last week scooped the club’s supporters’ player of the season accolade. Ward-Prowse was on Tuesday named in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad ahead of this summer’s European Championships. Speaking about the midfielder while announcing the squad, Three Lions manager Southgate said: “I've worked with James since my very first game in the under-21s and it has been amazing to see his life progress, really. "He is a father, he gets married soon and it is lovely to watch players go through that journey in their life. "To see him go from being a young player under Mauricio (Pochettino) to a great captain under Ralph (Hasenhuttl), it's fantastic." He added: "He is a fantastic professional. That is why he has been able to hammer those games out. "There is always an element of luck in having an injury-free run like that but you always know with James that he will do everything he can to get himself in the best condition that he can be in, to recover in the best possible way and to eat the right things.” Ward Prowse has made 322 senior appearances for Saints, having come through the club’s youth academy, joining at the age of eight. Speaking about the talismanic midfielder, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “It’s not surprising for me, a player who played every minute this season is unbelievable. “His physicality and his performances are outstanding. That’s our captain on the pitch and he is on the way that he is a very important player for this club for the long term, I think.”
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLstories- #JamesWardProwse reveals being in a ‘good place’ as he awaits England decision #SAINTSFC

May 25, 2021
JAMES Ward-Prowse says he feels "in a really good place" as he nervously waits to discover whether he has made the cut for England's Euro 2020 squad. The Saints skipper completed the remarkable feat of playing every Premier League minute for the second season in succession, with 90 minutes for his side at West Ham United on Sunday. But the 26-year-old is hoping his season is not quite done yet as Gareth Southgate prepares to name his 26-man England squad tomorrow. Ward-Prowse has six senior caps for his country, and scored his first Three Lions goal during the last international break in March, netting against San Marino at Wembley. The midfielder made his England bow in 2017, but had to wait two years for his next call-up as he battled for his place in the Saints squad. Ralph Hasenhuttl replaced Mark Hughes as Saints boss in December 2018 and Ward-Prowse did not make the matchday squad for the Austrian's third game in charge – a 3-1 win at Huddersfield – something he described as a "rock bottom" moment. But he battled his way back into contention and has not looked back since, becoming captain last year and the first name on the teamsheet every week. Speaking to the FA last month about the early weeks under Hasenhuttl, Ward-Prowse said: "I was in a really difficult position. I didn't know where to turn in terms of my career. "I had a lot of difficulties, trying to regain some form and trying to play regularly. I think that was a big moment for me to realise that with the change of manager, things weren't going to change as well as I wanted it to and that I had to revert back to the training pitch and show everybody that I was willing to fight and to show that I was able to play under this manager. "That was a big moment where I had to kind of step back and I remember on the way back from Huddersfield having a really good, hard think about how I would be going forward and how I could change to use this as a springboard to be better." He added: "I just did a lot of thinking myself. It was a real rock-bottom moment for me, but a great moment looking back at it to realise, actually, I need to change something, I need to do something different and work harder than I've ever worked before." Asked if he always believed he could make that breakthrough into the senior England squad again, even when he was struggling for regular minutes at Saints, Ward-Prowse told the Daily Echo: "You can’t think about England unless you do well for your club. So at that moment in time I wasn’t even thinking about England, I was more focused about playing for Southampton and to get in that team and to show the England manager why I should be there. "It’s not an easy journey. You’re going to have ups and downs, you’re going to have challenges come your way and you have to be mentally resilient, you have to be strong and believe in yourself. "Up to now I’ve done that and I feel as though I’m in a really good place."