Ward-Prowse lifts the lid on how he remains ever-present for Saints

The England midfielder did not miss a minute for the St Mary’s side during the 2019-20 Premier League campaign and has followed it up for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men this season.

Ward-Prowse has already featured 42 times for club and country during the current campaign, scoring on nine occasions.

Asked what the secrets were behind his success to keep performing, the 26-year-old told the Daily Mail: “I think it's just giving myself every possible chance to recover and be ready for the game.

“When it comes to recovery day, I try and tick every box by getting some soft tissue work done.

“The ice baths, the use of the pool recovery pumps, there's so many options available to us now, which is great.

“I see it as putting everything into it to get everything that I can out of it.

“If I can tick all of those boxes, I know that I've done everything right to be ready for the game.

“And I think that gives me a lot of confidence going into games, knowing that I'm fully physically prepared.”

He added: “I love playing football. I know the career's very short.

“I want to make sure that I can give myself every opportunity to be available and be ready to help the team. I've enjoyed playing every minute and hopefully it will continue.”

Ward-Prowse is of course looking for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this summer’s European Championship.

He netted his first goal for The three Lions at Wembley last month in a 5-0 victory over San Marino.

But the Saints academy graduate insists his form at St Mary’s would dictate his destiny when it came to the summer.

“I think a big part of that is by playing regularly and playing well for your club,” he said.

“That's ultimately what gets you that recognition.

“It is a fantastic pool of players that the manager's got to pick from. It's going to be a very hard decision for him.

“I've got to make sure that I do everything I can to make that decision even harder and put myself up for selection.”