Martin Hunter urges the Southampton Under-21 side to seize glory in the Premier League Cup final against Blackburn

Hunter’s side held Rovers to a goalless draw at Ewood Park earlier this week and have a great opportunity to lift some silverware when they return to St Mary’s for the deciding leg next Monday night.

The competition is a big deal for the club and several thousand fans have already bought tickets.

Hunter’s players are in a phase of their development programme defined as ‘learning to win,’ which seems very appropriate ahead of the fixture.

And the boss has reminded them that few players win much, if anything, in their careers – and so has pointed out what a significant game this is.

Ryan Seager heads just over in the first leg of the U21 Premier League Cup final (Photo: Southampton FC)

“It’s a big ingredient. This is the professional development phase which really includes boys from 16 right the way to 21 and the actual term that’s used is ‘learning to win’,” he said.

“The other thing we have discussed with the players, and they were very forthright, is that if you look at a professional footballer’s career the chances to win things unless you are in some superpower team, you don’t win many things in your professional career.

“The opportunity is here and the players want to grasp the nettle and win the competition.”

He added: “It’s another benchmark for us. It shows the progress that we are making.

“The club is very driven from the board downwards.

“We are constantly setting new targets and objectives and if we were to win the cup it puts another brick in the wall if you like.

“It’s important.”

Having to stand up to the pressure of playing big one-off games is part of the job of a professional footballer, and so this game is a vital learning curve.

“It’s very important,” insisted Hunter, the club’s technical director.

“It’s a cup competition, it’s preparing them to play in the FA Cup for example.

“You’ve only got one bite at the cherry. It’s in a stadium and we are hoping for a good support and that will help the players.

“It certainly will test them and we want to test them.

“It’s a very tough, cut-throat profession that they’re learning to get into.”

Jake Hesketh on the ball against Blackburn, while Harrison Reed watches on in the background (Photo: Southampton FC)

The competition also shows the value to a club like Saints of the current youth set-ups, with the revamped format seeing reserve team football scrapped in favour of under-21 development sides.

“That’s correct for me. For our club the under-21 league has been very good. It allows the continual development of our players,” reflected Hunter.

“We have obviously got some players out on loan specific to their development but to play in stadiums, though we don’t always play in stadiums, it’s training grounds too, it’s a good atmosphere and environment for them to learn.

“Some managers don’t like it but we don’t have a problem with that.

“We learn every time.

“We have played at Anfield this year, we’ve played at Stamford Bridge, we’ve played at Portman Road – all fantastic environments for them to learn.”

Tickets for next Monday’s game cost £3 for adults and £1 for concessions with a £5 offer for a ticket and a drink.

They are currently on sale from the ticket office and online. Supporters are advised to purchase in advance with queues expected on the night.