Stephens credits Yoshida for smooth Southampton start

Jack Stephens has come on leaps and bounds in the Southampton shirt this season, but the defender has heaped praise on teammate Maya Yoshida for the smooth transition into first-team football.

The two have been an integral part of Saints’ defensive plans since January, with Stephens slotting in in place of the injured Virgil van Dijk – big boots to fill of the Dutch international.

Yet Stephens has seemingly flourished in the role, with this season seeing him make his Premier League debut, playing a key role in the run to the EFL Cup final and netting a last-minute winner for England Under-21s at St Mary’s.

But the 22-year-old believes it’s the Japanese international Yoshida that deserves lots of the credit, delighted the pair have struck up a bond in such a short space of time.

“It takes time to form a partnership with anyone,” Stephens said.

(Photo credit: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

“But I think me and Maya have started to perform very well together. Over the last two or three months it has got a lot more solid.

“To come into a team that was quite settled was difficult to start with, but Maya has been fantastic for me, as has Cédric. All of the boys have been brilliant and I am very grateful for that.

“I would probably say the Liverpool EFL Cup semi-final game [was a standout moment]. It was my first big game this season and there was a lot of pressure on all of us.

“Not just me, but the whole team as well. It was a great moment for everyone to pick up that result and get through to the final.”