Southampton: Four Saints men in Premier League team of the week

Four Southampton players have been named in the Premier League team of the week after their impressive 2-0 win over Everton.

The team – chosen by all-time Premier League top scorer Alan Shearer – features Jannik Vestergaard at the centre of defence, James Ward-Prowse in midfield and Danny Ings as one of two strikers.

Shearer also named Ralph Hasenhuttl as his manager of gameweek six after the Austrian masterminded Saints’ third win in four top-flight games.

All four men have played a huge part in Saints’ recent form that has seen them rise back up the table to fifth place.

Out of the whole squad though, there has been no bigger improvement than the one made by Jannik Vestergaard.

With the arrival of Mohammed Salisu in the summer and Vestergaard’s previous form, some may have been thinking that the Dane’s days at St Mary’s were numbered.

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However, he was brought in for the visit to Burnley and has excelled ever since – forming a rock solid partnership with Jan Bednarek and providing an ability to see off direct passes forward from the opposition with his significant height.

An underrated part of his game is his passing though and Saints regularly push their full-backs high to receive those raking diagonal balls from Vestergaard. At the weekend, he contributed with a 95% pass success rate, six clearances, three aerial duels won and two tackles.

Ward-Prowse looks to be excelling as Saints captain and netted his first goal of the season against Everton with a fierce drive into the far corner of Jordan Pickford’s net.

Another strong partnership between him and Oriol Romeu is forming and is crucial to the way that Saints play. Both players are regularly seen winning the ball back and springing attacks with the four attacking players in front of them.

Danny Ings showed his superb football brain in the Everton match and set up the goals for Ward-Prowse and Che Adams whilst deliberately having little sight of goal himself.

Ings’ goal contributions over the past year have been huge for Saints and it now seems that he will be showing how he can help his teammates in other ways too.