Saints Marching
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Southampton: 3 academy graduates who must feature in 2018/19

By Edward Waugh

GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS - JULY 30: (L-R) Yan Valery of Southampton and Danny Hoesen of Groningen go up for a header during the friendly match between FC Groningen an FC Southampton at Euroborg Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Groningen, Netherlands. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS - JULY 30: (L-R) Yan Valery of Southampton and Danny Hoesen of Groningen go up for a header during the friendly match between FC Groningen an FC Southampton at Euroborg Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Groningen, Netherlands. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Jake Hesketh of Southampton celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium on September 21, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Jake Hesketh of Southampton celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium on September 21, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Jake Hesketh – Attacking Midfielder

The 22-year-old completed a two-year-scholarship with Southampton, finishing as the Under 18’s top goal scorer and therefore being awarded the 2013-14 scholar of the season award and shortly after signed a three-year deal with the club to keep him on the south-coast till 2017 at the very least.

Since then, and unlike his team-mate Yan Valery, Hesketh has taken a step further into becoming a future star for Southampton, having featured four times across multiple competitions such as the Europa League, Premier League and the EFL cup (one start and three sub), with also a goal to his name against Crystal Palace.

The midfielder possesses great dribbling and passing abilities which are very well highlighted in this YouTube video and though it is down to Mark Hughes and the Southampton hierarchy to decide how involved with the first team Hesketh is, to have as him in the match day squad behind the likes of the soon arriving Stuart Armstrong would offer some much needed attacking intent off the bench.