ALEX McCarthy has been a cool head and solid performer when Saints needed him the most – that’s why he’s been named the Daily Echo’s Player of the Season.

In goal behind a vulnerable defence, the 28-year-old has been unfazed by the high-tension atmosphere of a relegation dogfight, keeping seven clean sheets in 22 appearances.

The nervousness that coursed through the veins of many players when Saints had their backs up against the wall in many crucial games late in this season has not got to McCarthy.

Or at least he hasn’t shown any signs of the pressure getting to him.

The late saves against Bournemouth and Swansea have virtually kept Saints in the Premier League.

They were outstanding and he pulled them out just as Saints looked to be buckling under the weight of a late onslaught.

It’s hard to take many positives from this grim season at St Mary’s but McCarthy’s performances and emergence as an excellent number one must be celebrated. He has been a shining light.

It’s easy to forget he was brought in as a second-choice goalkeeper from Crystal Palace for £4m in 2016 and that he was understudy to Fraser Forster until late December last year.

His position is unquestioned now with Forster having to be the one to bide his time to get another opportunity between the sticks.

It’s hard for a goalkeeper to be the hero, but his contribution must be recognised and it’s clear in the voting on the Daily Echo’s Player of the Season that fans know what he’s done.

On Tuesday night the name everyone was singing was Manolo Gabbiadini’s, after the Italian fired in the winner at the Liberty Stadium.

But McCarthy, keeping the Swans at bay at the other end, was just as important. He made one particular flying save from Jordan Ayew that was vital.

The former Reading man had made just two first-team appearances in the League Cup and none in the Premier League for Saints before Mauricio Pellegrino selected him ahead of Forster at Manchester United on December 30.

There had even been a few blunders for the club’s under-23s that may have been cause for concern, so this was a potentially risky move.

The tip of the iceberg was the 5-2 defeat to Tottenham at Wembley and Pellegrino withdrew Forster from the firing line.

Forster had lost his way and made some costly errors which hadn’t helped Saints’ deteriorating situation.

Once one of the finest goalkeepers Saints had ever had, Forster was starting to be a liability and his position had become virtually untenable, with regular ire from fans and form that had dropped off a cliff.

It was time for McCarthy to have a go and he was soon able to build a quiet confidence, even if there was hell breaking loose around him.

He had a good start, and that really helped him push on and establish himself. That must have been no easy task.

This is a player who had scarcely played in front of a full stadium in nearly two years, not to mention the fact he began to play as Saints were dropping like a stone.

With Forster struggling in every aspect, McCarthy was able to do everything solidly, he helped restore confidence at the back.

There was no reason to clench when routine clearances, saves and catches needed to be made – McCarthy was doing all these things without fuss.

That unfussy approach was enough for Saints fans to sing his name almost immediately, having been long on the edge of their seats over Forster's struggles to deal with the basics.

A clean sheet on his Premier League debut for the club was followed by one in the FA Cup at Fulham.

Saints were still in disastrous form but McCarthy was untarnished by the circumstances. He continued to do what was asked of him.

In his position, he was able to avoid any real complicity in the inept tactical decisions that were often made by Pellegrino.

When Pellegrino was finally sacked and Mark Hughes came in, the sharpening up of performances overall helped McCarthy further.

He is positively exuding confidence now, having let in just two goals in the last four Premier League games.

The way he dominated his area at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday night was superb. He virtually launched himself and won every corner, cross and ball in.

He’s the best performing English goalkeeper right now and should be considered for a place in the World Cup squad.

Heading into the final game of the season, McCarthy has let in 28 goals in 22 appearances, while Forster let in 32 in his 21 games, keeping four clean sheets in the process.