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Southampton are expected to be one of the favourites for promotion this season and could have an absolute gem on their hands.
Will Still is at the helm and the Saints are hoping for a much better season after being relegated as one of the worst teams in Premier League history.
There are plenty of Southampton stars that could shine under Still, but one Japanese expert believes there is a youngster in the ranks that could catch people by surprise.
Japanese expert says Southampton should be excited by Kuryu Matsuki
Kuryu Matsuki will feel like a new signing for Southampton despite joining the club in July 2024.
He spent last season out on loan at Turkish outfit Goztepe and scored six goals from 34 games in all competitions, impressing as a box-to-box midfielder.
J League expert Tasuku Okwa revealed that Matsuki is the one to watch this season and his status in Japan is down to the fact that he did what very few of his countrymen have done.
He told the EFL website: “I think he is probably one of the most famous Japanese players in the EFL to be honest.
“There is a huge presence on high school football in Japan and he got a lot of attention at a really young age. There’s a tournament every year which is shown on national TV in Japan, and Matsuki achieved something very rare.
“In the first year he was eligible to play, he made the starting lineup, and so he became a star from a very young age and every J-League club wanted him.
“He’s been on loan so hasn’t really played for Southampton, but he is the one to watch, and the one I think with the highest potential.”
Will Still is a fan of Kuryu Matsuki
There haven’t been many better young coaches than Still in the world of football.
His work with Reims and Lens made him an attractive candidate for clubs over Europe and he has a track record of spotting a player when he sees one.
Having worked with Matsuki for the last few weeks, the Saints boss likes what he’s seen after he scored against Gillingham in a pre-season friendly.
“As people they’re really good guys and they’re settling in really well,” he told the club website.
“We don’t have to overplay it and overcomplicate it and try to be too positive, we’re just going with the flow, and it’s all good for the moment.”