Stephens opens up on following Ward-Prowse as Southampton captain

The 29 year old has been named Southampton's new captain following Ward-Prowse's departure to West Ham United.

Stephens, who joined the club in 2011 from Plymouth Argyle, wore the armband for the first time since becoming captain against Norwich City last Saturday.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, the defender noted that he is looking forward to the future now that the pressure of his first game as skipper has passed.

“There was probably a bit of nervousness on the day of the game (against Norwich)," Stephens said. 

"It was the first home game of the season, the first game for me being captain and the first game without Prowsey.

"There was a lot going on. It was a tough day mentally for me - I was very tired that evening.

“It’s been good to have that game and push it to one side so now we can move forward."

Although Stephens is good friends with the former Southampton captain, having come through the ranks with Ward-Prowse, he admitted that he didn't consult with his friend about captaincy.

“I’m very close with Prowsey, I have been since I joined the club, but we didn’t actually speak about the captaincy at all.

“I wanted him to stay first and foremost. If I could have him back and he would carry on as captain, 100 per cent that would be perfect.

“The manager spoke to me when he knew that it was going to happen and he said I was going to be captain. It was good for me.

“I’ve always said that Prowsey is such a professional. Everything he does is first class, it has been for the past 12 or 15 years.

"He’s a model professional and I just hope that I have learnt enough from him so that I can carry on the captaincy and keep that standard up."

Stephens signed a new two-year contract with Saints ahead of their Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday.

The new deal came after a summer of uncertainty at the club having spent the previous season on loan at AFC Bournemouth.

However, Stephens was willing to commit to a new deal after positive conversations with new Saints boss Russell Martin.

“I was out on loan for a year," Stephens continued. "So when I came back in the summer I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

Stephens played 15 games in the Premier League whilst on loan at AFC Bournemouth last season (Image: Stuart Martin)

"Plus we had a new manager, but the conversations I had with the new manager were positive and I knew that he was someone that I wanted to play for."

Despite stepping into a new role, the centre-back doesn't feel as though the dynamic with his teammates has changed.

"I’ve always tried to be very talkative in the dressing room and on the pitch with the position that I play.

"It was always drummed into me that communication was vital for my position.

“It’s always something that I’ve done anyway, regardless of whether I was captain or not.

"That won’t change, which is probably a good thing because it won’t change how I play and it won’t change how I am.

"In that regard, there is not a lot of pressure for me to do things that aren’t easy for me or aren’t normal for me. I’m finding it ok at the moment."

The former Cherries loanee continued: “In and around the dressing room we have got plenty of experience.

"The dressing room is a good place to be at the moment because there is a lot of positivity. 

“On the pitch, leadership is slightly different because sometimes it doesn’t come naturally to people and I don’t think it’s fair that you try and force that on people.

"On the pitch you just want players to do their job the best they can. If there are people who like to communicate, which we do have, then that’s going to help.

"But first and foremost we want people to be comfortable doing their job and not to overthink what they are doing."