Taylor's humble Harwood-Bellis admission after Burnley stint

Taylor's experience in the game dwarfs that of the former Manchester City starlet, with 161 Premier League and 126 Championship appearances.

The duo played together in defence for Vincent Kompany's Burnley en route to the Championship title during the 2022/23 season.

Taylor, 30, and Harwood-Bellis, 22, mostly played as a centre-back pairing, despite the fact Taylor has spent the majority of his career at left-back.

He reveals that Harwood-Bellis - who completed his permanent move to Saints this summer for £20million - messaged him when he heard the news. 

Speaking at Southampton's training camp in Spain, Taylor told the Daily Echo: "I think we're obviously at different stages of our career.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis was an important signing for Saints this summer (Image: Stuart Martin)

"Taylor's just coming through but he's played a lot of games to be fair for the age he's at. He's had a lot of experience and exposure now to football.

"I think as much as he's learnt from me, I've probably learnt from him as well in different ways, and having that time together previously has helped me settle in here as well.

"When he heard about me coming to Southampton he texted me straight away, not that he needed to sell the club to me or anything.

"He had only good things to say about the manager, his staff, the players, the club as a whole. It was a huge club and just an opportunity that I felt I had to take." 

Taylor continued: "I was pretty relaxed about it really. I'm quite easy-going as a person anyway so I just felt I was excited.

"I didn't know what the future would hold but I felt as though I had a good season personally last season and whatever happened was going to happen this year.

"To stay in the Premier League was my aim and that came about with Southampton." 

Charlie Taylor has featured in both of Southampton's pre-season matches (Image: Stuart Martin)

Taylor experienced relegation from the top flight with the Clarets in May before departing on a free transfer, having made 28 league appearances.

Saints have been compared to Burnley on occasion in the last 12 months, with both making immediate returns from relegation with an expansive playstyle.

Style was not enough to keep the Turf Moor side in the division - despite landing Kompany the Bayern Munich job - and Taylor will draw on those experiences.

He explained: "I think last summer was a similar situation as I have come into now. There are differences here and there.

"I've experienced that promotion and I feel as though you learn from things that have gone wrong and things that have done well.

"I'm just looking forward to the season ahead and the challenges ahead. It was a disappointing season for us as a team.

"I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned. If I can help bring that to this team and help in any way possible then it's a bonus.

The staff and lads, they all seem like really good people," Taylor continued. "They've made me feel so welcome and that's helped me settle in.

"I feel as though I can play in multiple positions but it's up to the manager, where he feels I'm best. As long as I'm playing, I'll be happy."