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Southampton: Hugely impressive stat proves Ward-Prowse’s worth

By Marc Walker

Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Southampton at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on November 1, 2020. (Photo by Gareth Copley / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GARETH COPLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Southampton at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on November 1, 2020. (Photo by Gareth Copley / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GARETH COPLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse proved his match-winning capabilities on Sunday by scoring two direct free-kicks and assisting from another.

His first-half efforts put Saints in a 3-0 lead and were crucial to an eventual 4-3 win over Aston Villa – a result that lifted Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side up to third in the Premier League table.

The match coincided with Ward-Prowse’s 26th birthday and also saw him score Saints’ 1000th Premier League goal, break Matt Le Tissier’s club record for free-kicks scored and become the first player to score two direct free-kicks in the first-half of a game in the competition.

Now another stat has emerged that has proved just how good the England international is from a dead-ball situation.

Via a report from the BBC, Ward-Prowse has the best conversion rate – 12.5% – from free-kicks of any player who has taken 50 or more since the 2003/04 season.

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To put this into context, here are just a few of the names he has beaten (via the BBC): Thierry Henry, Seb Larsson, Nolberto Solano, Ashley Young, Alexis Sanchez, Craig Gardner, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Aleksandar Kolarov and Carlos Tevez.

Ward-Prowse only made his Premier League debut in 2012 and has seen off many top class players here. It is vital that he and Saints continue to take full advantage of his ability to deliver a telling ball or an attempt on goal.

A 12.5% conversion rate means that Ward-Prowse scores from one free-kick in every eight that he takes and it remains to be seen how many more he will provide a goal contribution from in the 2020/21 season.

One thing that he now has to aim at is a significant target in the opposition box – Jannik Vestergaard.

The Denmark international has been brought into the team for his defensive abilities mainly but connected with a Ward-Prowse delivery at Villa Park just a fortnight after finding the net at Chelsea.

With that aerial threat to aim for, it will not be a surprise to see free-kicks become even more important for Saints.

Next. Saints confirm outcome of Danny Ings' knee scan. dark