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James Ward-Prowse’s fantastic free-kick might not have been enough to take a point from Old Trafford earlier this month, but he followed that peach of a strike up with another against Spurs as Saints ran out shock 2-1 winners.
Scoring from a dead-ball situation with such consistency is no easy feat and, if the 24-year-old keeps banging them in from outside the box, then he could be set to smash a long-standing Southampton record.
St Mary’s legend Matt Le Tissier netted 12 free-kicks in his career on the south coast and, with four to the England man’s name already, the former striker thinks Ward-Prowse has the potential to smash his tally.
Here’s what the 50-year-old said:
“He [Ward-Prowse] definitely can [beat my record of 12 free-kicks], he’s so confident at the moment. It’s nice when you get a direct free-kick in a good position and you feel the excitement of the crowd, knowing it’s a great chance to score a goal.
“That’s the feeling I had at the peak of my career, feeling confident and the crowd sensing that. It gives you a real buzz and it’s the same now with Prowsey.
“It’s very much a confidence thing. Since Ralph [Hasenhuttl] took over he’s been outstanding. Certainly, in the last six to eight weeks he’s been man-of-the-match in most of the games I’ve watched him in.
“Ralph has obviously instilled a lot of belief in him and that makes a difference to a player.”
Indeed, the number 16 has been nothing short of sensational since Hasenhuttl took the helm in December, netting six goals in his last nine games, including three in his last three.
These stellar showings eventually paid off with Gareth Southgate calling on the local lad when injuries took their toll on the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Having already won his first cap for the Three Lions, the 5-foot-8 midfielder will be hoping to get some more under his belt this month, although it’s in club competition where his chance to go down in the history books truly lies.
As Le Tissier says, confidence is clearly coursing through the free-kick wizard’s veins and he looks likely to score every time he’s stood over one.
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Having someone as deadly as he is from such situations is a massive boost to any team but particularly to one fighting relegation this season – Saints will need to take every opportunity they can if they are to get away from the drop zone as we near the end of the campaign and if Ward-Prowse continues to find the net he will a hero on the south coast.
With Hasenhuttl’s guidance, the 24-year-old could go on to become a club great and there is still a huge amount of room for development so we might not have even seen the best of ‘Prowsey’ yet.