The Southampton star branded a "winner" who is only just getting started

Playing for your country is a milestone every professional player wants to tick off.

Cyle Larin has managed to lead the line for Canada a colossal 94 times, during his globetrotting career, and it wasn't a great shock when he was called up to Jesse Marsch's squad for this upcoming run of international fixtures, with a superb seven Championship goals next to his name for Southampton this season.

Finn Azaz was also deservedly called up again for the Republic of Ireland team, after already collecting eight goal contributions for Tonda Eckert's men in the demanding second tier this campaign.

Kuryu Matsuki had never been called up for the main Japan national side, away from Azaz and Larin featuring heavily for their respective nations, but he has now been handed a chance to line up for the senior Samurai Blue side during the break, after a bright start to the season for the Saints hasn't got unnoticed.

Matsuki's bright start to the season

Matsuki really came into his own this month in the Championship when playing at St. Mary's.

He would collect an assist after only 14 minutes of action against Swansea City, when replacing a hit-and-miss Tom Fellows, and then - when gifted a start against Bristol City - he would seal a big win for his promotion-chasing side when confidently drilling an effort home past Sam Tickle.

The number 27 would struggle to get going during the 2-1 defeat to Wrexham, but nobody donning the Saints' away strip would come away from that matchup with much to shout about, minus James Ward-Prowse grabbing a goal in Wales.

Matsuki won't be dwelling too much on his underwhelming runout at the Racecourse Ground, as he now has a chance to prove himself on the international stage for his beloved nation, having previously been capped at U21 level.

Often, he goes under the radar as an important part of the attacking jigsaw at St. Mary's, next to the aforementioned Azaz and Larin always being involved in the goals.

If he can shine for his nation, his confidence will only be boosted even more, with Eckert coming out in an interview recently to shower the ex-FC Tokyo winger with praise, noting that he believes the 23-year-old is only just getting started in one bold prediction.

He is only just getting started

Eckert isn't shy when it comes to signing the praises of his Southampton group, with Larin memorably being labelled as the best striker in the entire Championship by his gushing manager, right at the start of the season.

This time around, when it comes to Matsuki, the 33-year-old has branded the first-time Japan national as a "winner" and he believes the goals will keep flowing, way beyond his calmly taken strike finding the back of net against the Robins.

He said, when speaking to the Daily Echo ahead of the Wrexham defeat: "I couldn't be more proud of the development that he's taken and I think he deserves every bit of it. He's competitive and he's a winner.

"We've been speaking for a couple of weeks now and I'm sure that he's going to score double digits this year. I think he has everything for that."

Further going on to wax lyrical about his versatility, it's clear that the often stone-faced Eckert is very happy with having 5-foot-11 forward at his disposal, alongside the other standout attacking talents at his fingertips.

A dream couple of weeks for Matsuki would be rounded off perfectly if he were to score for Japan over the stretch of international matches to follow, as Hajime Moriyasu's men face off against Uruguay tomorrow in a friendly, alongside Venezuela and Ecuador.

If he grabs a goal, he will come back to St. Mary's raring to go, again, as the number 27 also attempts to hit double digits for his domestic outfit to return his manager's support.

Once upon a time on the South Coast, he was discarded out on loan to Goztepe in Turkey.

Now, he's gaining international recognition, with Eckert a big fan of the speedy winger.

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