DEFENDER Joachim Kayi Sanda insisted he progressed "a lot" after joining Saints and is targeting regular first-team involvement next season.

Kayi Sanda arrived at Saints from Sport Republic sister club Valenciennes in January and featured in the last two games of the Premier League campaign.

Sandwiched between those top-flight appearances was a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the club's first Premier League 2 play-off final.

Kayi Sanda showed his goalscoring nous on route to the final, notching a goal in round of 16 and quarter-final victories at St Mary's.

"I came in January, and this group (the under-21s) is a fantastic group. We worked a lot during the whole game," Kayi Sanda told the Daily Echo.

"We know where we are because we work a lot. We are disappointed to lose the final against Manchester City. But we are proud to come here.

"We will focus and work on the next season. Everybody will learn a lot from this final. We are a young group, but we need to move forward after this. Football is sometimes like this."

Kayi Sanda's senior Saints debut came in the final minutes against Everton, in the final competitive men's match at the historic Goodison Park.

Joachim Kayi Sanda hugs Juan Larios ahead of Southampton's Premier League 2 play-off final defeat.Joachim Kayi Sanda hugs Juan Larios ahead of Southampton's Premier League 2 play-off final defeat. (Image: Craig Hobbs/Southampton FC) READ: Fernandes friendship and future - Larios on Saints career

His inclusion in the match day squad was a last-minute decision after Poland international Jan Bednarek was declared unavailable.

While the party atmosphere inside the Grand Old Lady could have been intimidating for the teenager, interim boss Simon Rusk was impressed.

Kayi Sanda, who played over 30 first-team games in France, said he enjoyed his Premier League debut and learned plenty in an eight-minute cameo.

"It was a nice experience, I learned a lot. Me and my family are so happy about that. I will work hard during the summer," he explained.

"I will come back strong to make it for this club, because it is so good. All people want to play for the first team. I work a lot, and I pray. We will see."

Kayi Sanda will now need to impress new Saints boss Will Still, who was in attendance for the youngster's home senior debut.

The 18 year old has trained with the first team on occasion since he arrived in the winter, and Still's fluency in French could aid adjustment.

He impressed senior players and developed a brotherly relationship with fellow Frenchman Lesley Ugochukwu, who has now departed the club.

"I learned a lot training with the first team because I came from the second and third division in France into the Premier League," he concluded.

"I have learned a lot, and I have progressed. Now I will focus on the next season and see what I can do then."