Claude Puel believes he has delivered on his promise to help develop Saints’ young players and thinks the club will see the benefit in years to come.

The Saints hierarchy appointed Puel with an express demand that he reopened the pathway from the academy into the first team after a feeling it had got blocked under Ronald Koeman.

Under his watch the likes of Jack Stephens, Sam McQueen and Josh Sims have broken through, while other young players such as James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond have taken strides forward.

Developing youngsters takes time to bear fruit, but Puel is pleased with the work that has taken place.

“Of course it’s important to try and keep our best players and continue to improve with young players,” said Puel, who says his side are on average the second youngest in the top flight this season.

“This gives good quality on the game and good solidarity and spirit on the team. I think it’s important.

“With all the games we can play this season it was an opportunity to give game time to many players and improve them.

“With Manchester United we are the two teams in England with all these games this season.

“It is fantastic and also it was difficult to keep the good consistency, the good energy, and always to keep a fresh team every time.

“I think we improve and all the players can improve and when you see also different players with speculation about them because another team would like them we see the good work because if we don’t play good football we cannot do strong games and no other club can be interested.

“All this I think gives a good picture, a good focus, about our team. It is important for also to continue this work.

“I think many good things on this season we learn a lot and it’s important to continue this work, finish and continue next season.”

Puel was asked whether he was proud of his work with the Saints youngsters just moments after being quizzed over his future at the club and smiled: “I think it’s strange because someone ask me about speculation that I can leave the club and another question is about if I am proud about the work on the club. This is strange.

“It’s not a question of proud, it’s my work with my staff to give a good thing for the project of Southampton and to develop young players and great players for the future.

“I hope for Southampton and not just the club we will see for the next season but of course it will be interesting to continue this work because there have been good games with good intensity and we need spirit and quality and to improve to find the good clinical edge.”