FORMER Saints midfielder James Ward-Prowse has credited former assistant Dave Watson for helping him become a set-piece specialist.

Watson, 50, was a member of Southampton's coaching team for eight years, working under the likes of Ralph Hasenhuttl, Ronald Koeman and Claude Puel.

He spent time as Hasenhuttl's assistant coach, having previously worked as head of goalkeeping, before departing in 2022.

During his time at Saints, Watson was tasked with organising set pieces, which saw him develop a relationship with Ward-Prowse.

Speaking on the Fozcast, Ward-Prowse explained how the pressurised environment at Saints helped him master the art of delivering corners.

Dave Watson left Southampton in 2022 (Southampton FC)

He said: “Watto was good for that. Because he used to train the goalkeepers, he had a separate input from the other coaches.

“He always looked out for me and was a really key figure who helped me move forward under Ronald Koeman.

“He really put huge pressure on me at certain points. I remember one point when I wasn’t in the team, Steven Davis was in front of me, and I would help the first XI train the set pieces.

“Davo’s groins were a bit dodgy at the time so Watson wanted me to share the load. I have genuinely never been that scared to cross a ball.

“He would turn around and say ‘No, no, we are not doing that again.’ I could feel myself shrinking with confidence and the lads would be looking and laughing.

“That pause between (hitting the first man) and then trying to do it again makes you think ‘Oh my God, here we go.’

“You had (Virgil) van Dijk in the middle, throwing his arms up. Graziano Pelle didn’t want to mess his hair up. All of those factors come into your head.

“Watto would slap his little book of set plays against his leg and I’d be thinking ‘What am I doing?’

"I would genuinely be scared to cross a ball until I got rid of that (feeling) and I could do it consistently.”