MAYA Yoshida is desperate to write himself into Southampton Football Club history by winning the League Cup – and become a role model for fellow Japanese footballers.

Such is the calibre and experience of the current Saints team, many of the players already have numerous medals to their name.

Ryan Bertrand, Oriol Romeu, Steven Davis, Fraser Forster and Cedric Soares are among those to have lifted trophies with previous clubs.

But for Yoshida this is his first chance to win a domestic honour, and it's an opportunity he is taking very seriously because he knows that such an achievement will be prominent in his homeland.

The central defender has usually been a back-up during his four seasons at Saints but, with Virgil van Dijk injured and Jose Fonte now at West Ham, he finds himself first choice alongside Jack Stephens.

A bullish Yoshida is now ready to prove that Saints can be become a "bigger club" by winning their first piece of major silverware in 41 years with him at the heart of the defence.

"The fans really expect us to get the title," he said.

"Every season we lost many players to bigger teams, because I understand that everyone wants to play at bigger clubs with history in cups, like Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.

"But we could be a bigger club and that’s why we need a title.

"If we get the title then more players will want to come to Southampton.

"Also in the academy everyone will start to think they want to be like Van Dijk, Shane Long and maybe Maya Yoshida in Asia.

"It’s important because in Japan everyone wants to come to England because it’s not an easy thing to do, so if I get titles it’s more prominent on the news."

The 28-year-old, who arrived from Dutch side VVV-Venlo in 2012, won the 2011 Asian Cup with Japan, but has not tasted domestic success, yet.

"I haven’t got any titles in my club career, only the Asian Cup for the national team, so I really want to win it," he smiled.

"Since I came to Southampton the club have improved a lot and now is the right time to write another chapter.

"It would be massive for the club and I would like to be part of the club's history."

Saints have been on an upward trajectory for the past seven seasons, with promotions and constantly improving league finishes in the Premier League over the past three campaigns.

Yoshida believes that Saints are one of the "most improved" clubs on the planet.

As such, the Japanese says that Saints can be a role model for fellow forward thinking clubs if they continue their rise by winning the League Cup.

"Because the Premier League is such a big competition not everyone can reach this kind of achievements," he said.

"Southampton are one of the most improved clubs in the world over the past few years.

"We could be great role models for other football clubs all over the world.

"That’s why we need this title."

Yoshida dreams of telling his grandchildren about writing himself in to Saints history, and becoming equals to the heroes of the 1976 FA Cup.

"Yes, not only for the players but for the staff who are working in Southampton Football Club," he said.

"Everyone will have their name in history if we get the title.

"Me, all the players, the coach, everyone.

"For everyone it’s an important thing.

"We’re going to be really proud of ourselves and we can tell to our grandchildren that we are a big part of the history of the club."