JACK Stephens still has the full support of Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The defender found himself in the firing line after mistakes against Cardiff and Arsenal, but Hasenhuttl is backing him to become a better player because of it.

Saints’ manager said: “You have to learn from it – as Jannik Vestergaard did in the first game against Cardiff and then, after this game, he made a perfect development in his performance.

“The same I was demanding from Jack and the last game it was really a step back in his development.

“He knows that. But I’m a long way from booing a player from my team or saying that I don’t trust him anymore.

“The fact is he is a young player from this team – one from the Southampton Way. It’s not easy for him at this moment.

“He knows he’s made a big mistake but I think he’ll learn from this and we’ll help him get better and to stop these mistakes. As a team, we all take care of every player because we need every player.”

Stephens found himself back in the starting XI when Maya Yoshida went to play in the Asian Cup with Japan at the beginning of January.

Since then, he has helped Saints win crucial games against Leicester and Everton in their quest for Premier League survival.

Because of this, Hasenhuttl isn’t ready to exile him from the first team picture.

He added: “Don’t forget when Maya Yoshida was at the Asian Cup he played fantastic games in a back five and helped us beat Leicester and Everton.

“They were fantastic fights and that’s what we should show – that we are a team and club that cares about everybody. That’s what we do here.”