REIGNING Saints Scholar of the Year Dom Ballard is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his personal heroes James Ward-Prowse and Matt Le Tissier to become a one-club St Mary’s legend.

17-year-old Ballard made his first team debut this season in Saints’ EFL Cup victory at Cambridge United and it took the striker just 13 minutes to mark his maiden appearance with his first goal.

Now, after that “dream come true” moment, Ballard is looking to go further - much further - with the club he’s been at since the age of nine.

“You hear a lot about the Matt Le Tissiers, Alan Shearers, you just want to follow in their path really and do what they’ve done,” Ballard told the Daily Echo. “And if I get anywhere near to what they did, then I can say I’ve had an amazing career.

“I’ve got my idols and being at Southampton, obviously James Ward-Prowse and Matt Le Tissier, they’re the idols I want to be like and use to adopt to my game. 

“It shows how good the club is that players want to stay here throughout the academy and moving on to the first team. It shows how good the club is and if that’s where my career takes me, I’ll be happy.”

While names like Le Tissier, Shearer, and Ward-Prowse are of an almost unattainable stature for pretty much any young player, Ballard has certainly begun his career in the right way. 

After rising through the academy ranks, Ballard signed his first professional contract in April, a three-year commitment. And just weeks after netting his introductory goal in a Saints shirt, the forward made his England U18s debut as he continues to push for new heights both domestically and on the international stage. 

This season, playing for both the Saints B team and U18s, Ballard has already notched 14 times in 22 appearances. His eyes are firmly set on continuing to do the prolific same - but at a significantly higher level.

Daily Echo:

“Without a doubt that’s what I want to do now and what I’ve got to strive for,” Ballard said about the prospect of becoming a regular fixture on the first team scoresheet. “You can never get comfortable. I’ve just got to push on now and hopefully, I can score goals at the top stage in the Premier League.”

While Ballard has enjoyed real strides in the senior set-up this season, he’s still waiting on his second appearance following the memorable first at Cambridge. He knows he has to remain patient - but he’s also hungry for more.

“When you see us in and around it, it just gives you that extra bite to want to do it more. It’s all about working harder than the other person. You get what you deserve and I think the way the club do it is just perfect.”

The full interview with academy sensation Ballard is set to come out on Saintsplus early next week so make sure to keep your eyes peeled...

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