Playing for Saints is a privilege - Bragg

Southampton midfielder Cameron Bragg has described playing for his boyhood club as an "absolute privilege".

The 20-year-old from Chandlers Ford joined the Saints academy aged eight, and made his senior debut as a substitute at Blackburn at the end of last month.

"I can't complain. I think I could be doing worse things with my time. It's an absolute privilege to be here every day," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"Recently I've really realised how lucky we all are, and what an opportunity we've got. I'm just going to try and grab it with both hands, and really hold onto it for as long as I can."

Bragg was handed his first senior start in Saturday's 5-1 win at The Valley but said he managed to stay very calm.

"I prepare the same for every game, and I think that's going to be important for the continuity, to not try and do different things," he added.

"For me the most important thing was to have loads of confidence and faith, and the staff and players gave me that, and then put on a performance like I did."

Bragg could not help giving the supporters a big fist-pump at the end of the game.

"It was lovely, a really good moment, but obviously not something I'm used to," he said.

'I had no doubt he can step up to a big role'

Tuesday's 3-0 victory over Leicester City made it four successive wins under interim head coach Tonda Eckert who replaced Will Still at the start of November.

Saints have climbed from just outside the relegation places to 13th, and three points outside the play-offs.

Bragg worked with Eckert in the under-21s, and is not surprised with how well Eckert has made the transition to coaching the first team.

"Early on from seeing the level of detail and attention that he gives to things, I had no doubt he can step up to a big role. I've got a really, really good relationship with him," Bragg said.

"He really took me under his wing, and he's been incredible with me. I love his ideas, and the way he thinks about football. I think we're very similar in that, and it's just a pleasure to work with him every day.

"I think he's just got a real good level of clarity. We're so clear on what he wants to do. Every game has a clear plan, and there's loads of structure for us.

"The mood is obviously incredible."

'He's a proper genius'

Lallana became Saints' first team coach after retiring from playing in June 2025

Bragg has also been working in the Saints academy with another former graduate Adam Lallana who went on to make almost 450 club appearances, including 245 for Southampton.

"He's been so good with me, and lot of the young boys," Bragg said.

"I hope everyone feasts on his knowledge because he's a proper genius in football, and has worked with some of the best ever.

"You can really tell that his understanding of the game is different level. He's been so good at looking after me and helping me with things that I can do better in my game, and hammering in the things that I'm good at. Having him around is a big blessing for the club."

Southampton have a rich history of bringing through talent from the academy, and Bragg has progressed through the ranks with players including Jay Robinson and Tyler Dibling before his £40m move to Everton in the summer.

Bragg said the pathway had not always been a smooth journey.

"It's a lot less straightforward than people would see," he added.

"It looks like a dream-world but there's been loads of set-backs to get to that point, and it's definitely not linear.

"A very tough first loan (at Crawley Town in League One), a tough start when we came on at Blackburn, and those things are just as important for your character to build and let you grow.

"Then those moments can evolve into a moment like Saturday, and they're so important. The whole process just to get to that point was not easy, but it makes it worth it."

'I know how passionate the fans are'

Bragg is in a privileged position to know exactly how many of the Southampton fans are feeling after the resurgence under Eckert.

"It makes it a little more special that this is my boyhood club, and loads of my friends are massive fans.

"I think they're quite excited along with me at the moment, and it's nice that I know what it means to people, and how important it is to win, not just to us, the players, of course. I know how passionate the fans are and how much they want to see their side do well.

"They're the heart of the club, and they really guide you through everything. The away fans at Charlton was probably my first real experience, but it was amazing to see how many turned up and how loud they were. It felt they were the only ones in the stadium, and to give them that feeling is pretty special."

'Each game at a time'

After starting against Charlton, Bragg was back on the bench for Tuesday's win over Leicester City. So what are his hopes for the team this sesaon, and for himself?

"For me it's not something that I've thought about," he said.

"As a team, they will want to achieve as much as possible. I know what the ultimate goal is, and that goes without saying.

"But the most important thing at the moment for us is to go each game at a time, and keep getting results. Millwall will be the next step towards that. It's four (wins) on the bounce now, and that's incredible, but that momentum needs to keep going.

"That will a tough game. It's a pretty well renowned stadium, I know the atmostphere can get quite intense, and that will be the challenge. That's the main thing for us, to manage that atmosphere, but also to show our quality."