Beck to the future for JWP

JAMES WARD-PROWSE aims to bend it like Beckham to become an England legend.

The Southampton midfielder has been drafted into Gareth Southgate’s squad following a string of impressive displays in the Premier League.

But he is also earning a reputation as a top dead-ball specialist – his latest corker was the winner against Tottenham earlier this month.

And he admits he has been studying YouTube footage of David Beckham in a bid to become more deadly.

He said: “Beckham was the best. The free-kick goal against Greece (in 2001) was the prime example of that.

‘‘I watched videos of him, but ultimately I created my own technique with hard work.

“It is nice to get moments like against Tottenham to win us the game, it is nice to see those moments paying off.’’

Ward-Prowse’s only senior cap was as a substitute in a

1-0 friendly defeat to Germany in one of Southgate’s early games in charge.

Now the former England

Under-21 captain is ready to shed his ‘nice guy’ image to cement a place in the senior squad after a pep talk from Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Ward-Prowse added; “He mentioned a few things I needed to change and I took what he said on board.

“I want to get away from that perception of the Southampton Academy boy.

“I need to be a bit more aggressive, to try and stamp my authority a bit more on what’s going on.’’