Hometown hero Sam McQueen has topped an amazing 2016 by signing a new four-and-a-half-year contract at Saints.

The academy graduate, a former Mountbatten School pupil, converted from a winger to a left back in the summer and hasn’t looked back.

McQueen played his first Premier League game in October and after a stunning arrival in the team has penned a new contract which keeps him at St Mary’s until 2021.

Speaking about his new deal, McQueen said: “It feels really good, as you’d expect. I’m delighted to sign a new deal with the club, having been here for so long already.

“It has been years and years of hard work to get to this point. I’m really happy to be out on the pitch playing games for the first team.

“The last couple of months have been amazing for me and this new contract really just rounds that off. Now it’s important that I keep working hard and make as much of an impression as I can.”

Executive Director of Football Les Reed added: “We’ve been delighted with the way in which Sam has developed in recent months, becoming an important part of Claude Puel’s first-team squad.

“Having come through the club’s Academy alongside James Ward-Prowse and Harrison Reed, Sam is yet another example of our philosophy to bring players through from the Academy and into the first team.

“After gaining Football League experience last season, Sam quickly made an impression on the new coaching staff over the summer, and has performed excellently since his Premier League debut in October.

“We’re delighted that Sam sees Southampton as the best place to continue his development and achieve his ambitions. We’re confident he will play an important part in the club’s future.”