Southampton: Three current players that are vital to Saints’ future

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with James Ward-Prowse, Jan Bednarek and Ryan Bertrand of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary's Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with James Ward-Prowse, Jan Bednarek and Ryan Bertrand of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary's Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Hojbjerg had to work hard to get starts under previous Saints managers but has now picked up the captain’s armband after becoming a key man in the side.

His energy and enthusiasm in the centre of midfield have been key to a number of results that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team have picked up in the last 16 months and will surely still be for longer if he stays at St Mary’s.

Interest from other clubs from the Premier League and around Europe is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t commit to part of the ongoing project on the South Coast.

The 4-2-2-2 system that Hasenhuttl plays has seen Hojbjerg’s best attributes come to the fore and they could be a brutal combination with more fine-tuning.