Saints welcome Blackburn Rovers to Staplewood Campus in tonight's Premier League Cup clash, and defender Yan Valery has emphasised how the togetherness shown in last week's hard-fought draw at Middlesborough will be key to the Under-23s' progress in the competition.
Now 18, the Frenchman is one of the youngest members of Radhi Jaïdi's side, but continues to make an impression with his pace and athleticism from full-back.
Talking about his individual progress, and that of the team, the teenager said: "It was a good first half against Middlesborough, we all worked together as a team and performed well.
"But we gave them too many set-pieces, which was their strength. We have to learn about game management, even though we're still young players.
"In training we're improving as a unit, and we now have to put this in to practise against Blackburn. Every game I am starting, I'm happy. I try to learn from the older players.
"I like attacking and crossing, when I have the ball the first thing I am thinking is go forward. I'm learning the defensive side also, working on my 1v1 defending and distances with the centre backs.
"It isn't the first time we're playing against Blackburn. We've been preparing well in training, and if we get the game plan right and play our football it will be a good match."
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