SAINTS duo Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse have been named in England’s initial squad for the Uefa Nations League.

Redmond and Ward-Prowse both had excellent finishes to their season which hasn’t gone unnoticed by England boss Gareth Southgate.

Southgate said: "He's [Redmond] finished the season really well.

"Since the change of manager, I've liked the way the team has played. A lot of pace, presses well, has started to score more regularly.

"I think he had a difficult season last year but this has been a lot better."

The Three Lions will travel to Portugal at the beginning of June to play Holland in the Uefa Nations League semi-final.

Should they beat ex-Saint Ronald Koeman’s side, they will go up against either Portugal or Switzerland in the final.

This will present the first chance for England to win some silverware since the World Cup back in 1966.

Although the Saints duo made the initial 27-man squad, they will have to be at their best to avoid being one of the players to miss out when Southgate trims it to 23 on Monday, 27 May.

Redmond had a sterling season for Saints, ending as the club’s top scorer in all competitions with nine goals.

This then led to him scooping a handful of awards at the end of the campaign.

He won the club’s Player of the Year vote, Fans’ Player of the Year and the Daily Echo’s Player of the Year.

And should Redmond make it into Southgate's final squad, he will be in line to earn his second cap for England after making his debut against Germany back in March 2017.

There was speculation as to whether the Saints winger would play for the Republic of Ireland after manager Mick McCarthy declared his interest in the ace.

But with Southgate calling Redmond up to the Three Lions, it looks as though the decision has been made on his behalf.

He will be joined by Saints teammate Ward-Prowse, who featured for the national team earlier this year in the away win to Montenegro.

Although Redmond has been excellent all season, Ward-Prowse has stood out over the last few months.

His run of goals, that included a winner against Tottenham Hotspur, helped keep Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints side in the Premier League.

Speaking to the Daily Echo last week, Ward-Prowse revealed he was eager to be selected again by Southgate.

The 24-year-old said: “I’m hopeful. You want to represent your country at every opportunity.

“It will be a chance, in an England shirt, to win some silverware. I will be desperate to be a part of the squad but that’s out of my hands.”