YOUNG Dominic Ballard has the gaze of the Saints hierarchy already, including manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, after only one year as a scholar at Staplewood.

The 17-year-old striker, who signed his first professional deal with the club last week, is described as exciting, direct and strikingly confident by those who see him ply his craft.

The superlatives are supported by the statistics, with Ballard netting 26 goals in 41 matches across the under-18s and B team this season – 18 of those coming in youth Premier League competition.

Physically, he is quick and agile – but not diminutive, despite it being obvious that he is still only 17 and no older, which is not always the case.

Daily Echo: Ralph Hasenhuttl and Dominic Ballard (Pic: Southampton FC)Ralph Hasenhuttl and Dominic Ballard (Pic: Southampton FC)

Ballard has a long way to go before he can hope to represent the first-team in front of the St Mary’s faithful – the likes of Kazeem Olaigbe and Luke Pearce are ahead of him in their development, and itching for opportunity – but his path is clear, and he will have time to travel it.

“A young goalscorer, yeah,” the former Austrian international forward, Hasenhuttl, says with a smile, talking to the Daily Echo.

“This is it, we have a lot of very good players in England, young players. You have to give them very early the signal, this is the direction we want you to go.

“Then you have to look how serious and how professional they are. Then follow the path and help them when you need to, but you can only show them the way, they have to go the right direction.

Daily Echo: Academy graduate Nathan Tella signed a new three-and-a-half year contract in January (Pic: Southampton FC)Academy graduate Nathan Tella signed a new three-and-a-half year contract in January (Pic: Southampton FC)

“I think it is a good message that he decided to stay with us and gets the chance here to sign his first professional contract, we will have an eye on him.”

Ballard is deep into his ninth year with the club, after arriving as a schoolboy in 2013. Whatever is really tangible of the ‘Saints philosophy’ will be well ingrained.

“His football journey has been driven by his high desire, application, determination and enthusiasm to improve, along with the complete support of his family,” 12-14 coach Tony Salentino said.

Danny Maye, who worked with Ballard from 14-16, added: “He didn’t always have it easy but his potential was clear from a young age.

“He consistently worked hard and played with a smile on his face. Players like Dom are so enjoyable to coach. He fully deserves this opportunity and I look forward to watching him develop.”

Youngsters like Tino Livramento, 19, show that Premier League opportunity is not all too far away, if you have Premier League ability.

Daily Echo: Tino Livramento has made 25 Premier League appearances in his debut season (Pic: Richard Crease)Tino Livramento has made 25 Premier League appearances in his debut season (Pic: Richard Crease)

Ballard, along with the rest of the Saints academy starlets who earn it, will get the occasional chance to train with the first-team, to test their own limits – first steps to finding out if they have what it takes.

Hasenhuttl warns it will not be easy to come by, though, with the newfound depth of his squad.

“We will see. This season it is a little bit tougher for the young lads, last season it was easier,” the boss admitted.

Daily Echo: Thierry Small, 17, was given a Saints debut in the FA Cup (Pic: Stuart Martin)Thierry Small, 17, was given a Saints debut in the FA Cup (Pic: Stuart Martin)

“But it should not be easier, the problem is you can only lift a player to the highest level when there is players around them of the highest level. Otherwise, you adapt more to a lower level because it doesn’t work.

“I mean, you can still work with the very high level cognitive exercises we have to make them quicker in the mind, but in the end you should also have quality around them so they can see, ‘okay, you have to be that quick with your decision making’.”

Looking back, he continued: “Last season, we had too many academy players and the whole quality of the session was going down and it is much harder to develop them.

“It is much better to bring in one, two players and that gives you more. This is the reason why we have to show patience, and in the end when the moment comes he will get the chance.”