Sam McQueen admits he thought his Southampton career was over last season.

The 21-year-old reflects that when he moved on loan to League OneSouthend United last season he thought that his “opportunities in football maybe elsewhere" and not at St Mary's.

“It did go through my mind partly," he told the Daily Echo. “You go out on loan because you want to learn so you can come back here and play, but I was thinking maybe my opportunities in football maybe elsewhere in the future.

“But as soon as I came back here in pre-season it was that I wanted to hit the ground running and give my absolute best shot to try and get in the team here.

“It wasn't definite in my head, but I just needed to prepare for every opportunity and any way that it could go."