Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to ease the pressure on his England starlets.
As the club have climbed the Premier League much attention has been focused on their core of academy produced talent.
Pochettino said: "All players are very important for this club. It is clear he (Ward-Prowse) has special qualities that enable him to be here and start games which he has been doing so far this season.
"We also have to remember that players like Prowsey and Luke Shaw are only 18.
"Sometimes we speak about them as if they are 24 or 25-years-old. We have to remember they are only 18 and have a very long path they have to go through and have a lot to learn still."
