Daily Echo readers crown their Southampton Player of the Year 2019/20

The striker becomes the 47th recipient of the prestigious award, joining household names such as Alan Ball, Peter Shilton, Mick Channon, Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier to have won the prize.

Ings received a whopping 82 per cent of the vote from the 3,588 readers that took part in the online poll.

Saints’ star man has had a phenomenal season, scoring 22 Premier League goals to help the St Mary’s side finish 11th in the table.

The 28-year-old was nominated for the end-of-year award alongside Stuart Armstrong and club captain James Ward-Prowse.

Ings’ victory won’t come as a surprise to Daily Echo readers who have witnessed the local lad go from strength to strength.

He started the campaign playing second fiddle to last summer’s signing, Che Adams, but quickly became Hasenhuttl’s standout player.

His season came to life at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park, where he scored twice to help Saints sink their fierce rivals 4-0.

And he didn’t look back from that scintillating victory which will live long in the memory of the St Mary’s faithful.

James Ward-Prowse came second in the voting

He went on to score 13 goals in his next 16 matches to fire Saints away from the threat of relegation.

Lockdown arguably came at the perfect time for the striker as it gave him the time to rest and recover from the rigours of playing every week.

And the ex-Burnley striker returned for Project Restart in spectacular style.

Ings netted seven times in the club’s final nine games of the season, finishing just one goal shy of eventual Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy.

Ward-Prowse came second in the online poll, receiving 10 per cent of the vote from the 3,588 readers that participated.

Scottish international Armstrong fell just short of Ward-Prowse’s total.

He secured nine per cent of the vote.

The Daily Echo would like to thank all readers who took part and voted in our poll for their star player of the season.