Dom Ballard of SAINTS has been nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month honor for the month of August.
Prior to moving to Reading on loan, the 18-year-old scored back-to-back hat tricks in Saints’ opening two games of the season.
Ballard will be playing for the League One team this season, managed by former Southampton boss Ruben Selles.
He was also called up to Simon Rusk’s England under-19 team for their friendlies against Germany and Switzerland thanks to his performance in the Premier League 2.
In England’s 4-2 victory over Switzerland on Saturday, Ballard, the Young Lions team captain, scored his first goal at the under-19 level of international competition.
Ballard gave an explanation of his decision to transition to senior football rather than stay with the Saints under-21s after signing a loan deal with the Royals.
Hopefully I come with goals – that’s what (Selles) wants from me, he said, speaking to Reading’s official club media.
“I want to reinstate Reading. I could play youth football, but I want to challenge myself. Playing against men is significantly more difficult.
Yago Alonso, Jamie Donley, Martial Godo, Mark O’Mahony, Sam Paul, Ronnie Stutter, and Jayden Wareham are all up for the honor with Ballard.
The Premier League Football Development Panel will select the winner, who will be revealed later this week.