Southampton's Harwood-Bellis answers quickfire fan questions

A European Championship-winning captain of the country's under-21s side, Harwood-Bellis now wants back-to-back promotions.

The centre-back helped Burnley to the Championship title last campaign but needs Saints to win the playoffs to repeat the trick. 

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Harwood-Bellis said: "I think the overriding feeling is excitement.

"To get to play in a game that you know is as simple as you win, you go to Wembley, it's exciting. I just can't wait for it to come around now."

Saints defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been among the club's most important players (Image: PA)

Saints are pushing to generate an all-time atmosphere at St Mary's to will the team on to success over the Baggies. 

With a 0-0 draw at The Hawthorns last Sunday, the tie - the first time Saints have competed in playoffs since 2007 - hangs in the balance. 

Harwood-Bellis added: "We're not going to deny that it's a massive game for us and the fans, it'll be good to get the atmosphere rocking.

"It's been like that a few times this season and it really does help us. I think if the fans can bring it, then I'm sure that we will."

Ahead of the contest, Harwood-Bellis agreed to answer questions submitted to us by Saints supporters on social media.

If you had the chance to ask Taylor Harwood-Bellis some football and non-football quickfire questions, what would you want answered?#SaintsFC

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 15, 2024

If you could pick another former teammate to join the squad for the final two games of the season, who would it be and why?

That's an unreal question. You know, there are two, Nathan Tella or Manuel Benson from Burnley. They are match-winners. 

Nathan Tella departed Saints last summer and has become a Bundesliga champion with Bayer Leverkusen (Image: PA)

Would you rather fight 100 chicken-sized horses or one horse-sized chicken?

The chicken. Actually, no, 100 chicken-sized horses. 100%.

Describe your time at Southampton Football Club in three words?

Exciting, enjoyable - I have really enjoyed it. Challenging at times, but overall exciting. Exciting, enjoyable and challenging. 

Will you go back to skinhead Harwood-Bellis?

I always do it, I just change it up, it might come off again in the summer and then grow it back. I'm lucky that I've got hair so I might as well use it.

England under-21 captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Image: PA)

Who are you closest to within the team?

I'd say Will Smallbone and Flynn Downes.

Ideal Wetherspoons breakfast?

I have never been but if I say ideal breakfast, let's sack off all the athlete stuff and just have an English breakfast. 

Do you know what, though? The thought of it is better than actually having it. That's what I think.

I like the thought of it being an English breakfast but I get there and I'll just have scrambled eggs on toast.

What's your ideal five-a-side team of all time? 

Ederson. Virgil van Dijk. Kyle Walker. David Silva. I am just going Man City here aren't I? Sergio Aguero. 

Sergio Aguero scored 184 goals in 275 Premier League appearances (Image: PA)

What is it like putting on an England shirt? 

It's proud. Even just going there and representing, even in the training kit and the badge on and everything like that, it's really proud. 

Winning the Euros, that was unreal. That was, I don't want to say the best achievement I've had because obviously we were not promoted last season, but that was right up there.

That was a different feeling from anything I've experienced.