Saints reaped the benefits of their youth system once more as they fielded three English teenage academy products at West Brom.

Mauricio Pochettino picked Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers and James Ward-Prowse for the Premier League opener at West Brom and all three starred as Saints picked up a 1-0 win.

The manager, pictured below, was quick to heap praise on to executive chairman Nicola Cortese, even though all three were signed for and developing in the academy long before he arrived at the club, indeed during Rupert Lowe’s stint as chairman.

Cortese has though deservedly earned praise for ensuring all three are tied down to long term contracts with the club and on the evidence of the game at The Hawthorns they have bright futures.

“I am only taking advantage of the work that has been in place at Southampton for the last four years, for the amazing work that Nicola Cortese has done in that sense of bringing younger players through the academy system,” said Pochettino.

“All I can say is that I am confident enough they are good enough players to play in this league. I think I am brave in that I make them compete in this league but, I am just taking advantage of the work that has been in place for the last four years.”

Chambers was in the side to make his first Saints start partly due to the injury that sidelined Nathaniel Clyne during pre- season, with the right back only able to take a place on the bench.

Ward-Prowse was a surprise starter in an attacking midfield role, just as he was in a defensive midfield role a year ago when he played in the opener at Manchester City.

Also missing from the bench at West Brom were Danny Fox, who is rumoured to be a transfer target for Bolton, Jason Puncheon and Maya Yoshida.

“It’s just different circumstances,” responded Pochettino when asked why Yoshida was left out when Gaston Ramirez, who also made a midweek trip to Japan for international matches, was amongst the subs.

“We have four central defenders who are equally good, they are equally competitive and I happened to choose Lovren and Fonte.”

Pochettino was refusing to get too carried away by Saints’ good start and added: “The only goal was to win at West Bromich and our next and only goal is to win against Sunderland at St Mary’s.

“All of that might seem like clichés but at the same time it’s what we actually need to aim for.”midfield role, just as he was in a defensive midfield role a year ago when he played in the opener at Manchester City.

Also missing from the bench at West Brom were Danny Fox, who is rumoured to be a transfer target for Bolton, Jason Puncheon and Maya Yoshida.

“It’s just different circumstances,” responded Pochettino when asked why Yoshida was left out when Gaston Ramirez, who also made a midweek trip to Japan for international matches, was amongst the subs.

“We have four central defenders who are equally good, they are equally competitive and I happened to choose Lovren and Fonte.”

Pochettino was refusing to get too carried away by Saints’ good start and added: “The only goal was to win at West Bromich and our next and only goal is to win against Sunderland at St Mary’s.

“All of that might seem like clichés but at the same time it’s what we actually need to aim for.”