Would Jason McCarthy get an opportunity at Southampton?

Jason McCarthy is one of the current crop of young Saints players out on loan in order to gain valuable first-team experience. But would the centre-back get the chance to feature in the first team next year?

Southampton have always been a team praised for the exposure they give their young, English talent. Both Jack Stephens and James Ward-Prowse have started the last 12 games in all competitions together.

With the duo having impressed alongside the sporadically appearing Josh Sims, it begs the questions as to whether more academy graduates will get the opportunity to shine next season.

One man right in the spotlight is centre-back Jason McCarthy. The 21-year-old is currently on his second loan spell away from the St. Mary’s stadium, but in both he’s performed superbly.

NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Jason McCarthy of Walsall in action during the Sky Bet League One match between Northampton Town and Walsall at Sixfields on September 10, 2016 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images) /

The six-foot-one man, who was born in Hampshire, made his Premier League debut way back in December of 2014 when he came on a substitute against Crystal Palace.

Since then he’s spent the next two seasons out on loan in the lower tiers of English football, firstly at Wycombe Wanderers in League Two before stepping up to play for Walsall in League One this time around.

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Across the two campaigns McCarthy has averaged a goal around every ten games from the back, including five in 41 appearances this term. His goal against Bolton at the start of the season won his side all three points, and his brace against Bury helped prevent a loss back at the end of January.

There’s no denial that the Saints this summer will be in the market for at least one centre-back, if not more. Martin Caceres will seemingly leave the club this summer after failing to make a first-team appearance, and Florin Gardos is another man who could be on the way out.

Combine that with the ongoing Virgil van Dijk speculation makes it seem all-the-mote definite that Claude Puel and Les Reed will have to spend this summer – but what about Jason McCarthy?

Whilst Jack Stephens has a long way to go before he’s considered Southampton’s first-choice centre-half, his model can be translated onto McCarthy, with the former going out on four loan spells before getting his first-team chance.

Whilst the 21-year-old may have impressed it’s still a tall order to expect someone to jump from the third tier of English football to the top, meaning a loan move to the Championship could be the perfect stepping stone for the centre-back.

However if the Saints do lose van Dijk, or maybe even loan out Stephens, there’s no reason why McCarthy couldn’t fill that void based on his hard-tackling performances for Walsall.

Next: Who should be the Saints' top priorities to keep this summer?