Southampton manager Nathan Jones insisted that captain James Ward-Prowse still had a future as an England international.

The midfielder was cruelly left out of the Three Lions squad for the World Cup by manager Gareth Southgate, despite being in the initial group.

Ward-Prowse has been in several England squads over the past few years, but also missed out on selection for the Euros in 2021.

Asked about his star man's international future, per the Daily Echo, Jones said: “He's definitely got a future as an international player, I have no doubt about that because he has the quality.

“He has different qualities to other people that make him a good choice.

“I'm not going to comment on him not going to the World Cup because that's a decision that's out of my hands before I got here. That's a decision that we, as a football club, respect.

“For me on a personal point of view, I have managed to work with James for a month now. I have been delighted from the first day that he knew that he wasn't going – his professionalism has been absolutely outstanding.

“In terms of everything, his attitude, the way he's trained, the way he leads, how he has bought into everything. I have really enjoyed working with him and I hope he can say the same."