3 LIONS, ONE AMBITION

Ward-prowse has seen enough – now he wants slice of the England action

JAMES WARD-PROWSE was so near and yet so far from the action when England went gunning for Nations League glory last month.

The Southampton midfielder was on holiday in the south of Portugal as the Three Lions finished third at the finals a few hundred miles north.

But Ward-prowse plans to swap the pool for the pitch next summer by forcing his way into Gareth Southgate’s plans for Euro 2020.

He said: “I was in Portugal while England, but not close enough to go to the games.

“I was cooped up in bed with a cup of tea watching it.

“Obv iously, th e i ni t i a l disappointment of not being in the squad was there. But I ’m a t e a m p l a y e r. I understand.

“I was disappointed we didn’t make the final. But the performance l evels were there, and we won another penalty shoot-out, which is positive.

“If I keep playing well for my club, I’ll get back in the England squad. The onus is on me this season to start well and hopefully impress the manager.

“It helps that I’ve played under Gareth before for the under-21s but at the end of the day he has to pick the best team and I have to show I belong in it.”

Ward-prowse last played for

England in their

5-1 win over Montenegro in a

Euro 2020 qualifier in

March – tw o years after his only previous cap.

It was quite a comeback f or the 24-year-old, who enjoyed a resurgence under new Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl after spending the first half of last season on the fringes at St Mary’s.

But Ward-prowse wants more – and intends to hit the goal trail to reach new heights for club and country.

He said: “I base my game around hard work, professionalism and dedication and when my chance came along, I was ready for it. I will be again. It was a really positive experience with England and great to be a part of. It’s a vibrant group to be around at the minute. You come away feeling like y ou’ve stepped up another gear. “Being a regular in the Southampton team has helped me feel more confident and score goals. I think I can do more next season.

“I only really played regularly in the second half of last season and scored seven goals. Ten to 12 is a positive scoring season.”

Ward-prowse, who backs a new Mcdonald’s football initiative for children, believes Saints lost their way when Mark Hughes was in charge and that Hasenhuttl has put that right.

But despite having only just avoided relegation last season, he reckons a top-half finish is on the cards this time around with n ew signings Che Adams and Danny Ings already through th e do or. Th e S aints Academy graduate said: “I think we’ve rediscovered our identity over the last six months. We’ve a clear way of playing and what we stand for.

“B e f o re , we d i d n’ t really know what kind of t eam S outhampton was. Now we do. We’re a hard-working, pressing side. We have to be athletes first.

“If we get that right, we can take our league position higher.

“We will be much fitter and should be able to finish the season stronger, hopefully in the top ten.”

JAMES WARD-PROWSE was in Thatcham to surprise Thomas Woodrow during a Mcdonald’s Fun Football session. Hundreds more free sessions taking place later this summer. For more info visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ funfootball