Southampton manager Claude Puel singles out one player for praise after Manchester City draw and the stats show he is right

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From James Ward-Prowse to Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw to Calum Chambers, Southampton may well have found their next in line.

Southampton manager Claude Puel has lauded the progression of young left-back Sam McQueen after he helped secure an impressive draw away at Manchester City, as reported by the club’s official website.

McQueen, a winger by trade, only made his Premier League debut a week ago when Matt Targett, himself standing in for first-choice Ryan Bertrand, had to be replaced early in the first-half of their 3-1 home win against Burnley.

The 21-year-old impressed at St Mary’s due to his forward forays down the left-flank and well-placed deliveries, so much so that Puel kept faith with his inexperienced understudy in ominous away trips to Inter Milan in the Europa League and City on Sunday afternoon.

However, while McQueen impressed in an attacking sense against Burnley and Inter, it was his defensive durability that caught the eye of his manager at the Etihad.

“He played with a good structure and he gave all his possibilities today to work with the team,” Puel told the club’s official website.

“Perhaps he cannot take the wide role today but it was important to stay in place, keep that organisation and get this point.

“It’s fabulous for him to play in these games but it’s difficult to finish as it’s very physical.”

In just 166 minutes of Premier League action, McQueen is already averaging more tackles (2.5), clearances (2) and crosses (1) per game than his fellow St Mary’s graduate Targett.

Meanwhile his composure in possession, resulting from his academy days as a ball playing wide man, make him a reliable outlet on the left.

With Bertrand set to return in the coming weeks, McQueen may have to give up the limelight for the time being but Southampton’s determination to make the most of their Europa League journey means 2016/17 will surely be the season when treads that well-worn path from the club’s illustrious academy to the first-team.