NATHAN Jones explained that captain James Ward-Prowse “broke all high-speed records” on Tuesday night, ahead of his decision to rest him on Saturday.

The Saints captain was left out of a matchday squad for the first time since the visit to Cambridge United in the EFL Cup, back in August.

Ward-Prowse, 28, was present at St Mary’s in the dressing room to support the lads, who beat Championship strugglers Blackpool 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round.

The England international will take the armband back off 41-year-old Willy Caballero – who put in a strong performance at St Mary’s – for the EFL Cup semi-final at Newcastle United. 

READ MORE: FA Cup fifth round draw details: How to watch, dates and ball numbers

"He broke all high-speed records in terms of Tuesday night (in the first leg vs Newcastle),” Jones explained, asked about the decision to rest the ever-present star.

“It's a case of keeping on flogging him. Whatever I ask James Ward-Prowse to do, he will do.

“If I had put him on the bench today then he'd have done his warm-up, but now he's rested and he can train tomorrow (Sunday) along with the others.”

Ward-Prowse has scored seven goals in 25 appearances across all competitions this season, with four of those coming in the Premier League since Jones’s appointment.

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