Bree thrilled to rekindle Jones link
New Southampton signing James Bree has spoken about his delight at not only joining the club but also linking up once again with manager Nathan Jones.
The defender completed a move on Thursday from Luton Town, where he played under the current Saints boss and his coaches, Chris Cohen and Alan Sheehan.
"I'm absolutely delighted," said the 25-year-old full-back, who can also play centrally. "I'm just absolutely buzzing for it to finally get over the line. As soon as I had the chance to come to this huge club, a Premier League opportunity for myself as well, and obviously get to work with my old gaffer, I knew it was the right decision straight away and I didn't have to think twice about it.
"I feel fit and strong and in the best form of my career, so I'm ready to test myself in the Premier League and see what I can do."
The lure of working with Jones, who Bree enjoyed such a successful spell with at Luton, was a key reason in the defender opting to make the switch to St Mary's.
"It was a huge factor," he said. "Obviously, it's a Premier League team and I wanted to test myself, and obviously the gaffer and Chris and Sheezy, it was a no-brainer really. I loved working with them for the past few years, I know what they're about, I know how passionate the gaffer is and how much he'll work to get this team to stay in the Premier League, where it needs to be, and I think we'll do that under the gaffer.
"It's the passion and how much he cares about you. He knows when to put his arm around you, he knows when to give you a rollicking, but he always gets it right, especially for me. Just being used to working with him as well, I know what he's about, he knows exactly what I'm about and hopefully I can do as well for him here as I did for him at Luton."
Bree is unavailable for Saturday's FA Cup match at home to Blackpool, as he is cup-tied, but the prospect of making his first appearance in a Saints shirt is one that he feels will be well worth the wait.
"I'm buzzing and ready to hit the ground running," he said. "It's something I've dreamed of since I was a little kid, making my Premier League debut and obviously for a team as big as Southampton. It's something you dare to dream about, especially when your career starts and it goes the way it does. I can't wait for it."
