Hull boss Steve Bruce has likened Saints midfielder James Ward-Prowse to footballing legend David Beckham.
Bruce believes Ward-Prowse, pictured, has the same set-piece ability that the England star made his trademark during a glittering professional career.
Ward-Prowse has made a big impact on the team this season, and his delivery from corners and free kicks have been a huge threat.
Bruce said: “They’ve got the three England boys, the left-back Shaw is a really good player and there’s Ward-Prowse, his free-kicks are like David Beckham.
“They are as close as I’ve seen to Beckham in the way he whips it in. They’re really good from set-pieces.
“The centre-back (Dejan Lovren) they paid £10m for, Wanyama was £12m, so they’re a really good side.
“It’s not just the players they bring in, they keep producing them too.”
Bruce, who brings his Hull side to St Mary’s this afternoon, is full of praise for the way Saints have started the season and for the way they are going about developing young English talent.
“Southampton have been a breath of fresh air when you see at the young players they’ve got,” he said.
“Now we see three of their players in the England squad, it’s a club that’s taken off in the last few years. It wasn’t long ago they were in administration.
“They’ve done a wonderful job and their academy keeps producing. They’re fantastic to watch, all up and at them.
“To get 19 points from ten games is a wonderful achievement so it’s as hard a game as we’re going to get.”
Bruce paid tribute to the foundations laid by former manager Nigel Adkins but admitted that Mauricio Pochettino has kept the bandwagon rolling.
“Let’s be fair, Nigel Adkins did a wonderful job there. It took all the footballing world by surprise when they made the change. They were in League One when he came along,” said the Tigers boss.
“But you have to be fair, they’ve kept moving on.
“I’m not sure there’s an Academy that’s produced better than them in the last few years. You think about them, Bale, Walcott, Oxlaide-Chamberlain. And now these latest two or three. It’s a terrific effort.”
