SAINTS midfielder James Ward-Prowse can expect to spend part of next summer in the Czech Republic.

He is currently sidelined with a fractured foot and, as a result, missed England Under-21’s European Championship play-off win against Croatia.

The Young Lions rounded off a hugely successful qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win in Croatia which gave them a 4-2 aggregate victory in their play-off and a place in the eight-team tournament in the Czech Republic.

England won nine of their 10 games in the group stage of qualifying - scoring 31 goals and conceding just two - to set up the play-off tie against Croatia and goals from Liam Moore and Will Hughes helped seal victory after a 2-1 win at Molineux in the first leg.

Former Saints left back Luke Shaw played the whole 90 minutes last night.

Ward-Prowse, following his return from injury, can certainly expect to be included in boss Gareth Southgate’s squad next summer, especially after he was voted one of the top three players in last summer's Toulon youth tournament in France.

There is much talk of senior stars such as Jack Wilshere, Ross Barkley, Raheem Sterling, John Stones and three of Ward-Prowse’s ex-Saints colleagues – Shaw, Calum Chambers and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – gaining tournament experience with the Under-21s next summer.

But Southgate was eager to praise the players that were at his disposal last night.

“There are so many players who have played a part in getting us to the finals and every challenge that we've put in front of them they've risen to,” he said.

“You could write a teamsheet out with three or four illustrious names who weren't involved this week, but the players who played were outstanding and that's what I said to them after the game.

“I’m very proud of the group of players and the group of staff who now have the finals to look forward to next summer.”