KAYNE Ramsay is eager to "put a statement down" when he next gets a chance to play for Saints' first team, after penning a new two-year contract extension over the weekend.

The 20-year-old, who has made three senior Saints appearances since joining from Chelsea in 2017, has signed a deal to keep him at St Mary's until 2023.

The defender has been part of a matchday squad for the first team on nine occasions this season, featuring once.

Discussing his new deal, Ramsay told the Saints website: "I'm happy. I've just got to start again now and work hard, push on to the next contract and make the next step.

"It's been a long, hard four years. It's been tough. There's been ups and downs.

"I think I've grown as a player and grown not just on the pitch but off the pitch more with understanding what's going on and how to go about things and ways to improve myself. I think I've grown as an individual and become more independent.

"There's mixed emotions, but I'm happy to be involved with the squad and travelling to games. It's me gaining more and more experience. Hopefully my time will come. I've just got to be ready."

Ramsay's only appearance under Ralph Hasenhuttl this season came in the 9-0 humbling at Manchester United last month, where the defender played the full 90 minutes.

"The game against Man United was a strange one," he said.

"So my next game I've just got to make it right and put a statement down really."

Ramsay is one of many talented youngsters who have been involved in the first-team with Saints this season.

And he says that pathway played an important part in his decision to commit to the club.

"I've signed because the opportunity is obviously there," said Ramsay.

"There's players in and around it. It's not really about how good you are, it's about how you train and how much are you putting in. Do you want it?

"No matter how old you are or what stage of your life you're at, he (Hasenhuttl) is a manager that has instincts on someone willing to perform, he's just got to trust you to do it."