JAN Bednarek believes his self-critical nature is "normal" for a player so eager to constantly improve their game.

Bednarek is currently away with Poland at Euro 2020 and is in line to start in Seville against Spain in Group E tomorrow night.

The 25-year-old played the full game as the Poles were shocked by Slovakia on Monday, losing 2-1 in St Petersburg, earning his 30th senior cap in the process.

The centre-back's involvement for his country comes on the back of a season where he became a vital player for Saints, starting in 42 of the club's 44 matches. He only lost his place in the side in May due to a minor injury.

But it was not all plain sailing for Bednarek, who endured a sticky spell of form earlier in the year, which included scoring an own goal as well as being sent off in the infamous 9-0 defeat against Manchester United, although that red card was subsequently overturned. The former Lech Poznan man also had to fill in across the back-line, playing in an unfamiliar full-back position during the club's injury crisis.

Discussing Bednarek earlier this season, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: "This is a guy who is so self-critical that you normally have to tell him not to think too much about it because he always first looks on himself and tries to find his mistake.

"If everybody would be like him, I think it would be for every manager much easier.

"But he's the opposite, you have to tell him 'look, don't worry too much about it', because I'm still convinced that he's one of our best defenders we have and he made a big development also with the ball.

"He worries the most about himself, but I have to help him."

Asked about those comments from Hasenhuttl about being self-critical, Bednarek told the Daily Echo: "I’m just a kind of person who wants to learn, who wants to become a better player every single game.

"Mistakes are part of the game and it is just trying to analyse, trying to learn and improve the things I can.

"That’s part of football and I think with the hard work and being open-minded I can still learn and improve.

"I think that’s kind of normal things for a human being which wants to improve in the aspects he really believes he wants and he can."

Before his minor setback, Bednarek was one of just two players to have started every game for Saints last season, alongside captain James Ward-Prowse.

"It is not easy to be fair that you can perform in every single game," said Bednarek.

"This season is very demanding, there’s a lot of games and trying to be fit, trying to be fresh is very difficult. But we need to be professionals, we need to do as much as we can do to stay sharp.

"It’s also a nice sign from the manager that he really trusts me and Prowsey that we are still in the team."

Bednarek signed a new long-term contract with Saints in December 2020.