IT'S been a difficult season at Southampton Football Club with Mark Hughes’ side still battling for survival in the Premier League.

However, despite the poor campaign, the Daily Echo is still inviting supporters to vote for their Player of the Season, as has been an annual tradition for more than 40 years.

The winner will be announced on the final weekend of the campaign, ahead of Saints’ match against champions Manchester City on Sunday, May 13.

The online vote begins today and closes next Thursday, May 10.

With Saints struggling badly this season in the Premier League, just seven players have made shortlist this time around, down from nine last term.

Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and playmaker Dusan Tadic are frontrunners for the accolade, which Oriol Romeu won by some distance after a superb campaign in 2016/17.

James Ward-Prowse, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Charlie Austin, Ryan Bertrand and last season's runner-up Maya Yoshida have also made the cut.

Stellar names like Matt Le Tissier,  Mick Channon, Kevin Keegan, Peter Shilton, Jimmy Case, Alan Shearer and Rickie Lambert have won this award in the past. Who will join them, you decide!

To qualify for the shortlist, the player must have made 15 or more appearances for the club.

The voting is already open, just make your selection in the ballot below.

To help you make your decision we have profiled each member of the shortlist below:

Alex McCarthy

With Fraser Forster struggling for form, McCarthy was handed the goalkeeper’s jersey for Saints’ daunting trip to Manchester United in December.

The former Crystal Palace man, who had played just twice for Saints before Mauricio Pellegrino called him up, kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford and hasn’t looked back.

Although often exposed by a vulnerable defence, the 28-year-old has not looked fazed in his 20 appearances this term and has been one of a few positives in a disappointing campaign.

McCarthy’s heroics in the tense finale of the 2-1 win over AFC Bournemouth recently further endeared him to Saints fans. He’s kept six clean sheets since replacing Forster.

Dusan Tadic 

Tadic has been the most productive player in the Saints squad this season, in terms of goals and assists.

The Serbian playmaker has seven strikes and four assists this term, making him joint top scorer with Austin and joint top creator with Ward-Prowse.

Undoubtedly he’s had his inconsistencies this season, but on his day Tadic is the club’s most gifted attacker.

The 29-year-old, a mainstay in the team with 38 appearances this season, netted a superb brace against AFC Bournemouth to keep Saints' survival hopes alive.

James Ward-Prowse

Ward-Prowse has started 20 Premier League games this term and has shown glimpses of further development with a hot run of games at the start of 2018.

The 23-year-old netted four goals in five games, scoring to seal a vital win at West Bromwich Albion in February having struck twice against Watford and bagging the winning goal at Fulham in the FA Cup third round before that.

Charlie Austin

Injury stopped Austin in his tracks again this season, suffering a hamstring tear in December that kept him sidelined until March.

Despite fitness issues and starting just seven times in the Premier League, the 28-year-old has still managed to score seven goals.

Mauricio Pellegrino mainly used Austin as a substitute in the early part of the season but, after a brace against Everton in November, the Argentine deployed the £4m striker more.

He rewarded Pellegrino, scoring five in seven before he got injured against Huddersfield on December 23.

Austin has been back on the scene of late, though, and has started the last two games for Saints under Hughes.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

The Danish midfielder was completely overlooked until the end of November.

But, when he finally got his chance, he helped Saints to a rare win - the 4-1 triumph over Everton - on his first start.

Since then, the 22-year-old has always played with heart and fight and impressed supporters with his mature interviews.

His nomination for this award is more for his attitude and passion than anything else.

Ryan Bertrand

The left-back has become captain in Steven Davis’ absence and has been a mainstay in the team.

He's always been an attacking threat at left-back but has struggled to produce consistently this season.

Maya Yoshida

The Japan international has been a loyal servant and has been a good option throughout this season at the back.

In a difficult campaign, Yoshida has had to cope with chopping and changing in central defence, having partnered Virgil van Dijk, Wesley Hoedt, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens at different points this term.

The 29-year-old is now playing as part of a back five and continues to work hard for the side and is a good example to other players.