ALEX McCarthy has blown the competition out the water to win the Daily Echo’s Southampton FC Player of the Season award for 2017/18 after a landslide victory in the online ballot.

The goalkeeper has been a bright light since replacing Fraser Forster between the sticks in late December and received more than 3,300 votes for the traditional annual award, which has run since 1973/74.

Having made many vital saves in Saints’ battle against relegation, the 28-year-old hauled in 58.6% of the overall ballot, in which more than 5,700 people participated.

McCarthy has kept seven clean sheets in 22 appearances and is a big reason why Saints are on the verge of beating the drop to the Championship.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg comes in second, having collected 711 votes after a superb run of performances in the team.

The Danish midfielder has shown heart and grit in Saints’ battle for survival and has really endeared himself to the supporters in a breakthrough campaign.

Dusan Tadic completes the top three with 492 votes.

The Serbian has been in great form of late and is Saints’ most productive players, having scored seven goals and chalked up four assists.

Ryan Bertrand came in fourth with 404 votes, with fifth-placed James Ward-Prowse getting 317 votes, Maya Yoshida receiving 260 in sixth and Charlie Austin tallying 177 votes in seventh place.

McCarthy joins a long list of greats to have won the award.