James Ward-Prowse is delivering world-class performances Kevin De Bruyne would be proud of
Southampton's captain scored another two goals against Everton, but would such displays be so easily overlooked if he was at a bigger club?
Is James Ward-Prowse the unluckiest footballer in the Premier League?
In another time and place, poets would have gathered to eulogise over the Southampton captain's virtuoso performance against Everton on Saturday. Had Kevin de Bruyne scored Ward-Prowse’s two goals the salivating from neutrals might have waterlogged the Goodison pitch.
But in keeping with Ward-Prowse’s recent career, he would be relegated to a subplot in the immediate aftermath of the latest torturous afternoon for Everton. Understandably, the drama of fans’ protest, board members taking leave of absence for their own safety, and Frank Lampard’s drift towards relegation, left the biggest indent on this fixture.
Ward-Prowse might be inclined to muse upon the idea that if he was playing for a higher-profile club fighting for titles or a European place rather than against relegation, such a world class individual display would not be so easily overlooked.
One need only observe his heartbreaking international career, narrowly missing out on England’s Euro 2020 and World Cup 2022 squad. On this form - and more regular Saints watchers can testify how consistent such displays of quality are - it is a travesty he was omitted.
England manager Gareth Southgate is not alone in believing Ward-Prowse good, but not quite good enough to be indispensable. Ward-Prowse has been considered by numerous coaches fighting near the top of the Premier League, but an asking price in excess of £50 million has prevented him moving on. It is to the player’s credit he has parked his ambitions rather than forced a transfer, especially given he is now in his late 20s and time is running out to play Champions League football.
One cannot help but think if he had joined a top four club two years ago, he would not have endured that England despair. Evidently, it is far easier to leave out an in-form Southampton player than underperforming one from Chelsea or Manchester City.
Rather like when he saw James Maddison in the same stadium just before the World Cup, Lampard could only watch in envy from the touchline and wonder as to how and why - for all the many millions spent at Everton over the last seven years - his squad does not possess a footballer of similar talent who can bend a match to his will.
Ward-Prowse’s first to give Southampton’s comeback impetus was gorgeous, collecting Che Adams’ flick-on, calmly rolling the ball under his studs to wrong-foot Ben Godrey and Jordan Pickford, and effortlessly finding the bottom corner.
His winner was his trademark. There was a sense of inevitability as he strode forward to pick his spot from 25 yards, his new manager Nathan Jones remarking the only way his captain can fail to eclipse David Beckham’s free-kick goal record is if he has his right leg amputated.
Give Jones credit for freeing a supreme talent to influence proceedings higher up the pitch, the winner being Ward-Prowse’s fifth in six games.
Ward-Prowse’s form means Jones no longer looks the disastrous appointment he was three games ago.
“In previous times we may not have shown that fight and desire but you can see how the manager is and his staff on the touchline. They’re passionate,” said Ward-Prowse.
“They want to play with high intensity and they’ve got us all pulling in the right direction.”