ROSS County manager Malky Mackay hailed the instant performance of Saints loanee Jake Vokins and insisted “He has been schooled very well at Southampton’s academy, obviously.”

Vokins, 21, delivered immediate link up with striker and goalscorer Alex Iacovitti as the frontman finished the left-back’s dangerous cross to edge past their opponents 1-0 in the Scottish League Cup on Wednesday.

It was the former England under-19 international’s competitive debut with his loan club, who he has joined until of their campaign this season.

It is thought Vokins still considers himself a Saints player of the future after making a handful of first team Premier League and cup appearances, and with the Oxford-born defender having spent his entire career with the academy.

He’s already boosted his own reputation in the eyes of the former Cardiff City and Wigan boss Mackay though, who told press after the game: “What happened for the goal is something we spoke about.

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“It was a fantastic delivery from young Jake Vokins.

“He has a lovely left foot and we saw a couple of times with the ball fired to him from 50 yards, it just gets brought down beautifully.

“He’s a young player. He has lots to learn, but he has shown a great willingness. He has been schooled very well at Southampton’s academy, obviously.

“We talked in the first half about that little hole where, if we drew the second man out, which we did, that the front post space would be available if he managed to get the delivery in there. And by goodness, he did.”

The club had already been due to play twice in the Scottish League Cup this month but had seen both games forfeited due to COVID, meaning Vokins’ debut was long awaited north of the border.

They play against Montrose in the same competition today, before kicking off their 2021-22 Scottish Premiership campaign at home to St Johnstone on Saturday July 31.

The side actually reached the quarter final of the Scottish League Cup last winter, knocking out giants and current-holders Celtic on the way, before avoiding league relegation with three consecutive victories to end the season.