Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse has suggested that it is tougher than ever for the academy players to break into the Saints' first team.

The 21-year-old, an academy graduate himself, he admitted that the current quality of the squad is so high that it is a real challenge for any youth-team player to establish themselves at the club.

However, the England Under-21 international insisted that he believes in Southampton's home-grown talent and that manager Ronald Koeman has not forgotten about them.

The midfielder told the Southern Daily Echo: "With the quality so high in the first team now than it's probably ever been, it's even more of a struggle for younger players because they have to be in and around that level.

"But that's part of football. It is not going to be easy to break into a men's senior first team. So the challenge is there, but having known the youth team they are all good lads.

"The manager's very keen and he showed it last year, he wants to promote those younger players and I think it's just a case of the youngsters taking their chances when and if they get their chance."

Southampton head to the North-East to take on Sunderland at 3pm today.