YOUNGSTER Thierry Small has outlined how he intends to “push on with the first-team” at Saints after realising it is “not about individuality”.
The 17-year-old left-back ended his season in style with the winner in a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at St Mary’s, in the B team’s final match of the Premier League 2 season.
It was the summer arrival from Everton’s third notch of the campaign – a campaign that also saw his first-team debut under Ralph Hasenhuttl in the FA Cup versus Coventry.
That clash with the Championship opponents was eye-opening for Small, ending in a half-time hooking with Saints trailing the visitors at the break.
However, looking back on his season, Small insists it has been “positive” and taught him a lot about how to make it at the very highest level.
“It’s been a good season and good to finish on a positive note, we kick on,” he told the club website. “It’s been a positive year, being with the first-team, every day you learn a lot.
“You learn little tricks, you start to understand that it’s not about individuality but working as a team, learning little things to get an advantage over the opponent.”
He continued: “I just want to keep getting my head down, hopefully I can start to become a regular and push on with the first-team.
“Keep my head down, do my job properly, tighten up on little bits and hopefully we can have a great season.”
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