Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is impressed with academy starlet Dominic Ballard.

The 17-year-old forward, who signed a professional contract with the club last week, is highly rated by staff at the club.

Ballard is seen as a direct and very confident forward, who can play in various positions.

He netted 26 goals in 41 games for the Under-18s and B team this term.

"A young goalscorer, yeah," Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo.

"This is it, we have a lot of very good players in England, young players. You have to give them very early the signal, this is the direction we want you to go.

"Then you have to look how serious and how professional they are. Then follow the path and help them when you need to, but you can only show them the way, they have to go the right direction.

"I think it is a good message that he decided to stay with us and gets the chance here to sign his first professional contract, we will have an eye on him."