It must be hard to come through the Southampton academy, with fans desperate for the ‘next Matt le Tissier’ to shine through. James Ward-Prowse might not have the goalscoring prowess of the Saints legend, but he has established himself as an international standard midfielder.
Capable of scoring and setting teammates in live play and especially from dead balls, few players have been compared to David Beckham with such justification before. And like the former England legend, what Ward-Prowse lacks in pace and power he makes up for with incredible technical and tactical smarts.
What makes James Ward-Prowse worth watching?
For Ralph Hasenhüttl, few midfielders in England suit his system more. The Saints number eight has contributed 8 goals and 5 assists in just 29 league games, all starts. He is a more or less ever-present for Saints. Capable of playing in central midfield as well as doing a shift at full-back, Ward-Prowse is a versatile player who has the passing, technique, and positioning to play just about anywhere he could be asked.
In short, he is a burst of pace away from being a player who competes at the very highest level of football.
Things to improve for James Ward-Prowse
If you were to look at Ward-Prowse, you might wonder where he can improve. His passing is sharp yet ambitious, he is consistent, he works hard on both sides of the ball, and he retains tactical influence. He also tackles, works back, keeps the ball well, and can compete excellently in the air.
Add in incredible long distance shooting and set-piece delivery, and the main thing Ward-Prowse needs to add is a touch of physicality. With a small bit more athleticism, he could hold his own even more in midfield and burst by players with an extra yard of pace. Even if he was merely to become more consistent, though, Ward-Prowse has all the makings of a long-term fixture within the Premier League.