Ings and Ward-Prowse earn England recognition

Red-hot striker Ings has been rewarded for a stellar 2019/20 campaign with his first Three Lions call-up in five years.

The forward scored 25 goals in all competitions, becoming the first Saint since 2002/03 to hit 20 in a top-flight campaign, with 22 coming in the Premier League.

It means Ings is back in the senior Three Lions squad for the first time since October 2015, when he earned his only cap to date as a substitute in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania in Vilnius.

Saints skipper Ward-Prowse last featured for his country in March 2019, winning his second cap against Montenegro in Euro 2020 qualifying.

He was then included in last summer’s provisional Nations League selection, along with club teammate Nathan Redmond, only for both players to miss out when the final squad was reduced to 23 players ahead of the semi-final against the Netherlands. 

A remarkably consistent performer, Ward-Prowse played in every minute of every Premier League game last season, covering more ground than any other player in the top flight, whilst also contributing five goals and five assists in all competitions.

Though it was Roy Hodgson who gave Ings his England debut, the 28-year-old does have history with current boss Gareth Southgate, who was in charge throughout his Under-21 career, in which Ings earned 13 caps, scoring four goals.

Southgate gave Ward-Prowse his first Under-21 cap as an 18-year-old and later made him captain, before introducing him to the senior setup for the first time in 2017.

Now the Saints duo will hope to impress Southgate again when England begin their latest Nations League campaign with back-to-back away matches, starting with Iceland on Saturday 5th September, followed by Denmark on Tuesday 8th September.

Ings and Ward-Prowse will then return to the Southampton squad in time for the Premier League season opener at Crystal Palace on Saturday 12th September.