Marc Walker – Jan Bednarek
As has been previously mentioned, there are a number of players who would be worthy winners of this category.
Yan Valery has become a cool and calm first-team presence whilst still only 20-years-old, and I imagine every Saints fan has been delighted at how James Ward-Prowse has finally become a dominant and productive midfielder.
The man that really rose to the challenge during the past season for me though was Jan Bednarek. The Polish international has an amazing ability to make last ditch blocks and vital challenges that have potentially saved many a goal for his side.
His performances under Ralph Hasenhuttl highlighted a glaring error by Mark Hughes when he left him out of the side and he now looks set to be a key man in defence into the future. At 23, he could improve hugely in his time at St Mary’s too.