Southampton FC manager says his team is lacking 'real natural leaders'

Jones’ side doesn’t have an official vice-captain, leaving much of the weight of leadership on the shoulders of captain James Ward-Prowse. And while Jones has agreed that the England international isn’t the loudest of leaders, he doesn’t feel that’s taken away from his influence.

"I think you lead in any way," Jones said of Ward-Prowse. "There are different forms of leadership. There are ranters and ravers and there are those who are driven and then those who every day have standards that others want to meet.

"Personally, I influenced a lot of young players throughout my football career. (Saints first team coach) Chris Cohen was one of those people who've gone on to play international football. Not because I was a ranter and raver but because I just live my life to be better and to drive standards.

"James is one of those but he talks and he always steps up and he's brave and bold. And we have others that shout a little bit more. It's something that probably we lack. We lack real natural leaders here so we're having to invent them but it's still a great group."

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With an average age of 24.2, Saints have the youngest team in the Premier League this season, something heavily influenced by the club’s youthful summer rebuild that saw them sign six players aged 20 or younger.

Meanwhile, a number of experienced members of last season’s squad departed including Fraser Forster, Shane Long, and Oriol Romeu.

The average age of their nine incoming summer transfers came in at 21 years old while the average age of those who left the club equated to 27.6 years old. The byproduct of such a dramatic rebuild is an inexperienced squad full of talent but at times lacking in leadership, something Jones has recognised.

"It just needs a bit of guidance,” the Saints boss added. “It needs the odd leader now and again, but James has been fantastic for me and I’ve got a close relationship with which is really key as well.

"We've got a leadership group here. We've appointed that which helps.

"We've got Willy Caballero who is a wonderful individual and a really respected player and person around the place. All these contribute to driving an environment. I've been brought in to change certain things around the culture. So that we're all a bit more front-footed and aggressive in what we do."

Jones has spoken on multiple occasions since arriving at the club about searching for increased balance within his playing squad.

And while he insisted on Monday afternoon that the long-term philosophy of the club to recruit and improve young players has not changed, he also indicated that they will be using the transfer window to upgrade in the immediate as well.

READ MORE: Jones details transfer plans with hopes for 'three or four real quality' signings

The first sign of that came in the form of Saints’ maiden January transfer, 30-year-old winger Mislav Orsic joining from Dinamo Zagreb.

The Croatian has won 27 caps for his country and alongside Carlos Alcaraz - who at 20-years-old is set to join Saints imminently - represents the balance of experience and youth that Jones has been pining for. 

Orsic is comfortably the oldest player recruited under Sport Republic's watch and it remains to be seen if his signature will be an isolated incident or a sign of things to come.

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