May 2011

But in this case, we might be inducting the most talented player third-up, such is the reputation this youngster has in the game.

Adam Lallana is widely recognised as one of the hottest properties in league football, while his performance in the 2009/10 final against Carlisle United will live long in the memory.

In our team, he lines up in a five man midfield, as will become clearer over the coming weeks.

Adam Lallana (Southampton)

The biggest praise given to one of the hottest young properties in the game came from his former manager Alan Pardew in a press conference after Saints’ 4-1 win in 2010.

“Adam is a player destined to star in the Premier League. He has got all the attributes,” said Pardew.

Few could argue after his showing against Carlisle United, where he scored a timely goal on the stroke of half time and proved a constant thorn in the Cumbrians’ side.

While the 23 year-old is better known for an attacking role further up the field, he makes our team on the left of a five man midfield.

Equally adept with both feet, a wonderful set of skills and a player we simply had to include in our line-up.

Lallana was discovered by Southampton in AFC Bournemouth’s centre of excellence as a 12 year-old in 2000.

He was later involved in Southampton's FA Youth Cup squads of 2004/05 and 2005/06, when they reached the final and semi-final respectively.

He made his full debut in August 2006, in a 5–2 victory over Yeovil Town in the League Cup.

Lallana scored his first professional goal for Southampton against West Bromwich Albion in a crucial Championship clash and became a regular in the first team at the start of the 2008/09 season.

He finished the 2009/10 season with a total of 20 goals in all competitions, netting his 20th on the final day of the season against Southend United.

This made him the first Southampton midfielder to score twenty goals in a season since Matthew Le Tissier's 30 in the 1994/95 season.

In January, Lallana signed a new contract with Southampton which expires in the summer of 2015.

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