James Ward Prowse is being mentioned as a shock contender for a place in England's World Cup squad after beng named in third place in Sky Sports latest power rankings table for the Premier League.
Sky Sports publish a weekly table which ranks Premier League players not just on goals and assists but on a total of 32 different statistics including blocks, tackles, passes etc and these are also weighted depending on the importance.
Each weekly table assess the last five games for a player and in the table released this week James Ward Prowse has rocketed to 3rd after his impressive performance against West Brom, where he not only scored a great free kick but also took the corner that lead to Jack Stephens giving Saints the lead.
This capped another good all round performance from JWP which has been reflected in his ranking.
Eden Hazard tops the list followed by Sergio Aquero and then our own Ward Prowse.
Liverpool's Mo Salah is next up and that has proved an outcry amongst Liverpool supporters who feel that he should be top, but this table shows that it is comprehensive, although a player like Salah who it cannot be denied is explosive, it also perhaps highlights that his contribution to the team is not as goo overall as someone like Ward Prowse who offers more that just goals and assists.
This has lead to some areas of the media suggesting that Ward Prowse is pushing himself into Gareth Southgates World Cup plans, the England manager knows JWP well from their time in the U21's where our man ended his time as Captain.
Some Saints fans wondered why he filled that position, but in recent weeks they are stating to see why, Ward Prowse is finally starting to show the potential that has been there since his debut in the Premier League almost six years ago, that was perhaps part of his problem, we have watched him mature from boy to man and sometimes that is hard to see the improvements.
But this season he has started to look like he believes he should be in the Premier League, he has a new found confidence that really came out against West Brom and this could see him perhaps force his way into the England reckoning.
Jack Stephens also makes a surprise appearance at 7th and even Mario Lemina who sneaks in at 50th.