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Southampton: Youngsters to watch for the 2019/20 campaign

By Edward Waugh

ALTACH, AUSTRIA - JULY 14: Yan Valery of Southampton controls the ball during the friendly match between SCR Altach and FC Southampton at Cashpoint Arena on July 14, 2019 in Altach, Austria. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
ALTACH, AUSTRIA - JULY 14: Yan Valery of Southampton controls the ball during the friendly match between SCR Altach and FC Southampton at Cashpoint Arena on July 14, 2019 in Altach, Austria. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images) /
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COBHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 21: Jake Vokins of Southampton is closed down by Fankaty Dabo of Chelsea during the Premier League 2 match between Chelsea and Southampton at Chelsea Training Ground on November 21, 2016 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
COBHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 21: Jake Vokins of Southampton is closed down by Fankaty Dabo of Chelsea during the Premier League 2 match between Chelsea and Southampton at Chelsea Training Ground on November 21, 2016 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) /

Ralph Hasenhuttl has shown a lot of trust in Jake Vokins for the upcoming campaign, having decided to make the 19-year-old Southampton’s back-up left-back behind team-mate Ryan Bertrand.

Following the sale of former academy-graduate Matt Targett for a more than generous amount of £14M rising to £17M; it wasn’t a hard decision for Hasenhuttl to propel Vokins into the first team, especially given how he has more room to grow at a much younger age.

What has helped the young left-back’s claim to proceed up the Southampton ranks are his performances for the U18 and U23 set-ups, and versatility to switch from full-back to a left-sided midfielder. In 78 games Vokins has assisted 11 times and scored one goal, meaning he averages goal involvement every 6.5 games.

This might sound lacklustre. However now that Vokins will be involved in playing a much higher level of football and have the opportunity to learn off the likes of his first-team pears and Ralph Hasenhuttl, there is no reason to suggest why the youngster can’t make a big impact within the first team; especially if Ryan Bertrand were to unfortunately pick up an injury.

Expect Vokins to be used as a cup game player, to help game-manage all left-sided players within the squad and therefore give them the much needed rest to be sharp for the Premier League; or other deep-run cup games such as semi-finals and so fourth – but what is not to say that Vokins could have nailed down a spot at this point.

Now onto our potential selection.