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Southampton have a long history of promoting academy players to the first team and a large number of them have also moved on to other clubs and become stars there. Leon Best, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Matt Le Tissier and some bloke named Gareth Bale have all been developed in Southampton’s academy. Southampton’s ability to develop high-quality talent makes it the best club in England for producing young players.

The 2018-19 Premier League football season will see more Southampton academy graduates make the breakthrough into the first team. Several former Southampton academy players will hope they can solidify their places at the club.

The following players continue to show just why Southampton’s academy continues to be the brightest light in Premier League young player development. 

Jake Hesketh 

Daily Echo:

Jake Hesketh has already featured two times for Southampton’s senior side. The 22-year-old is expected to get more opportunities this season under the management of Mark Hughes. Hesketh was developed in the Southampton academy between 2006 and 2014. Most recently, he has played with the club’s under-23 side. If his future isn’t all made as the young French player Mbappe, there’s no doubt he can perform at the best level if he keeps improving as he did last year.

Sam McQueen

Daily Echo:

Left sided player Sam McQueen will suit up for the Saints this season. McQueen featured seven times for Southampton last term and racked up 142 minutes. Developed in the academy between 2003 and 2014, the 23-year-old could become a regular in Hughes’ side this term. McQueen is under contract until 2021 with the club, so a lot is expected of him and there’s no doubt he will have more games to show his value to the world of football.

Harrison Reed

Daily Echo:

Harrison Reed spent last season on loan at Norwich City. The extra season should help the 23-year-old to finally make the big breakthrough into the Saints’ first team. The 23-year-old is a former England under-20 international. He has already played 17 times for Southampton in his career. Last season at Norwich, Reed played in 39 games scoring one goal and adding four assists. He could be the next big thing to come through the Saints’ academy.

Reed went on loan to Blackburn Rovers last week.

James Ward-Prowse

Daily Echo:

Midfielder James Ward-Prowse is another player in the 23-year-old age range. However, unlike the others in his class, he has solidified himself as a top player in Southampton’s first team. Ward-Prowse graduated to the first team in 2012. He played 15 times and contributed an assist to the team that season. Ward-Prowse has already featured in 167 games for Southampton scoring 10 goals and tallying 21 assists during his career. He is perhaps the best product to come out of Southampton’s academy in some time.

Josh Sims

Daily Echo:

Winger Josh Sims will suit up for the Saints this term as he hopes to become a regular in the first team. The 21-year-old joined the academy in 2011 and graduated just four years later. Sims has starred in the Premier League 2 for Southampton. There, he has scored 11 goals and tallied 11 assists in 62 games. This season, he may get to show the Premier League just what he can do under the leadership of Hughes. 

Sims went on loan to Reading recently.

  • This story is a sponsored article and was not written by the sports department at the Southern Daily Echo.