Taylor Harwood-Bellis exclusive interview: Southampton defender hopes to draw on experience of Euro glory as Saints target Wembley | Football news

Few players can boast of having been promoted to the Championship two seasons in a row, even fewer before the age of 23.

But that’s what Taylor Harwood-Bellis has the potential to do over the next fortnight.

The defender – who has been on Manchester City’s books since the age of six – was part of the Burnley side that racked up 101 points on the way to the title under Vincent Kompany and is now part of the Southampton squad who are one game away from the play-off final at Wembley.

It’s already been quite a year, considering he also captained the England U21 team to European Championship glory in Georgia and Romania last summer.

But to stand a chance of topping it all, he and his Saints team-mates must beat West Brom in Friday night’s play-off semi-final second leg at St Mary’s, which takes place live. Sky Sports Football.

Friday May 17 at 7 p.m.

Kick-off at 8:00 p.m.

It’s 0-0 in total after last Sunday’s first leg, many would consider it a stereotypical and wary encounteralthough Harwood-Bellis didn’t see it that way.

“We didn’t approach the game cautiously or anything like that,” he said. Aerial sports at Southampton’s Staplewood training ground.

“We just wanted to play our game, score goals and keep a clean sheet, because that’s what we tried to do, whatever the game. We were in shock for the first 15 minutes and we had in mind that we were not going to concede.

“It ended up sounding a little suspicious, looking back on it, but, if I’m honest, it wasn’t.

“On the ball we have a lot more levels in us to beat their press, stay in their half longer and keep attacks going. We have more in our locker and we can be a lot better at that, but we can be proud of the defensive performance and the way we dug in.

“It was difficult because it was hot and the pitch was drying quickly, so we couldn’t really make the smooth passes we were used to. We still have more to come.”

This is now a single-game shootout; almost like a final in itself, given the prize at stake: a place in what is considered football’s richest sport.

So it’s no surprise that the 22-year-old is hoping to draw on his past experience to progress.

“Those are the games I love the most,” he says. “I played in the Euro final with the England U21s and it was probably one of the best games I played in.

“The feeling before and at the end was unreal. I’m thriving from these games and I’d like to think the guys are doing as well because of the vibes in training and around the place.

“Having the experience of playing a match whether you win or lose will help. It (the Euro final) was a big match, but with this match, if you lose, you don’t have no chance of promotion and if you win you’ll go to Wembley for another shootout – the scale is much different.

“I’m sure the fans will bring their voice. They’ve been there all season and to have a few extra percent from them, making the atmosphere quite hostile, will be unreal. We will bring energy to the pitch and I hope they can feed on it.”

The fact that Southampton manager Russell Martin is in attendance himself will certainly help too.

The 38-year-old former Scotland international has been lucky to win promotion from League Two once, League One twice and the Championship twice – the second time of which saw him captain Norwich to victory over Middlesbrough at Wembley.

There is clearly a lot of admiration from Harwood-Bellis towards his manager. “He was in the play-offs; he played the first leg, the second leg at home and he knows exactly how it feels. He played on the hot day of the first leg on a dry pitch.

“He’s been there and experienced it, so he knows how it feels for us and can empathize with us on the pitch. For us to try to stay calm throughout the season, he’s been really important.

“I played everywhere I went and I have to thank all the managers for that, but the manager put an arm around me and helped me that way. He was very welcoming about it and I appreciate it.”

When he joined the club on loan in September, Harwood-Bellis recalls playing against Martin’s teams at Swansea in the past. “They were tough to break down! I thought playing in just one of them would be good, but this year probably exceeded my expectations.

“I didn’t think there was much to learn in terms of playing with the ball after what I did last year (with Burnley), but I learned so much without the ball and with the ball too, much more than I thought I would.”

Returning to the task at hand, did Harwood-Bellis dare to dream of more success and another medal to add to his growing collection?

“I would like to lie and say no, but it crossed my mind,” he adds openly.

“It crossed my mind to get promoted and it crossed my mind to get automatic promotion, but it didn’t happen. I have to go and make it happen – the team has to get out there and make it happen – and hopefully by the end of May I can look in the mirror and say I’ve been promoted twice in two seasons.

“But we have a tough game on Friday against a tough team and that’s all I can focus on.

“I’ve never played at Wembley. I’ve been there a lot to watch City and it would be unreal to play there. It’s going to be difficult to get there, but we’ll give it everything we’ve got.”

Whatever the result on Friday night, this is a young man who has developed to the maximum in the Championship and is ready to take the next step.

If the Saints go up, they have an obligation to pay Man City £20million for his signature – permanently.

“I felt ready to go and play in the Premier League this summer, but the opportunity didn’t present itself.

“I’m here now and I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better. Hopefully I’ll be playing in the Premier League under this manager, which is something I’d be very proud of.”

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