SAINTS captain James Ward-Prowse admitted he does not know where his future lies as the club face likely relegation from the Premier League.

The skipper insisted his focus remains on helping the club as much as possible in the final three games of the campaign, following a 4-3 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Monday.

Ward-Prowse, 28, did rubbish reports that he has already been told he can leave Saints if the club are relegated into the Championship – Saints are eight points adrift with nine to play for.

The England hopeful netted an added-time penalty at City Ground to take his tally to eight league goals for the campaign and 53 in all competitions in 405 club appearances.

Asked if he can see himself staying at the club next season, Ward-Prowse told the Daily Echo and reporters: “I’m not looking to any of that.

"For me, it is about being focused on where we are now and giving my all for the club – which I always have done since I was eight years old.

“That doesn’t change. What happens beyond that, who knows? I don’t know. I’m just focused on doing everything I can in the next three games to give the club a chance of staying in the Premier League.”

A recent report elsewhere insisted Ward-Prowse has already been told he can leave the club in the event of relegation. Ward-Prowse responded to the claim when asked.

“No, there’s nothing in that,” he said. “The club know my thoughts and my position in terms of what I want to achieve in my career.

"Nothing has changed with that despite our position in the league. I want to give my all for this football club and whenever I put this shirt on I give 100 per cent.

"That’s no different whether we lose our next game or win it, it won’t change who I am as a person and that’s giving everything for this club.”

Ward-Prowse was prompted that it would be special if he stayed for a season in the Championship and helped lift the club back into the top flight.

The captain admitted: “In football, you don’t know what’s around the corner. It’s not mathematically over so I’ve got other things to think about other than that.

“My future will take care of itself and I always want to give everything I can to the table to give ourselves a chance of staying in the league.”

When asked for his and the group’s thoughts on impending relegation, he added: “It’s not over until it’s over and we know the situation we find ourselves in.

“It’s the same as previous weeks in that we need to take maximum points now and hope results go our way. That’s got to be our focus now.”