Harwood-Bellis reveals firm Southampton promotion ambition

Harwood-Bellis seemingly hinted at his Southampton future when admitting he does not wish to be a "one-cap wonder" for England.

He admitted playing in the Premier League is his best chance of returning to the Three Lions squad, and insisted winning promotion with Saints will help him do that.

The 23 year old, who missed the Under-21 European Championships this summer with injury, scored on his England debut against Ireland in November.

He has been linked with a move away this summer, but revealed he is focused on winning promotion back to the Premier League.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Harwood-Bellis said: "It's the dream to play for England and my dream came true. You want to stay there and not be a one-cap wonder.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis pictured with a bandaged ankle during the last game of the season. (Image: Stuart Martin)

"I've got a long way to go. I wouldn't say I'm mad close to the team at the minute, with the season going the way it went.

"At the end of the day, it's how you do it at your club. Personally, if I look at it selfishly, to get back in the England squad, I need to be playing well in the Premier League.

"That means we have got to get promoted, then. If I want to play for England, we've got to get promoted. People around me know that, and I think the fans know that as well.

"We don't want to be playing in the Championship, we want to be playing in the Premier League. We've got a taste of it now.

"We've got the bit between our teeth to go and do a better job. It couldn't have gone any worse in the Premier League last time. We've got to put that wrong, right."

Harwood-Bellis won promotion with Saints in 2023/24, which automatically made his loan permanent before the start of the Premier League season.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been linked with a move away from Saints. (Image: Southampton FC/Matt Watson).He played the second-most minutes, behind Kyle Walker-Peters, in a defence that conceded 86 goals, the most in the Premier League.

"If you can't use the embarrassment of a season that we've just had as fuel...the only way we make people forget about that is by getting promoted.

"That's the first job at hand. It has to be the aim; you've come to the wrong club if that is not your aim. Once we are there, we've got to do a better job.

"It's not going to be easy; we have to focus on ourselves. There's going to be tough games. I think the Championship is very competitive this year with the teams that are there.

"I love football, so I watch a lot of the Champ. It's going to be difficult, but we have the manager, the staff, the club and the players to give it our all."