Our scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star.

He brings you his verdict in Sportsmail.

This week it is Southampton's rising starlet Alfie Jones under the microscope...

Alfie Jones has been making waves in Premier League 2 with Southampton Under-23s this year

WHAT HAS HE GOT?

Southampton have long proved to be an outstanding producer of talent.

They have had some quality central defenders, too, including Toby Alderweireld, Jose Fonte and Dejan Lovren. That trio have since departed and recently the impressive Virgil van Dijk has been injured, though Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens held the fort in the League Cup win over Liverpool.

However, I was fascinated recently to watch another young pivot they have in the pipeline.

Alfie Jones, 6ft tall at least, caught my eye in a recent game. He actually diverted a cross into his own goal early on but he still went on to play with composed maturity.

Jones challenges Dominic Solanke in a recent Premier League 2 match against Chelsea

ALFIE JONES FACTFILE Age: 19 Club: Southampton Position: Central defender Value: £400,000 2016-17 apps: 4 Advertisement

I liked the way he covered his fellow centre back when he was competing with the opposition centre forward but his biggest plus was his sensible use of the ball.

When covering his left back he showed confidence in his left foot with a clean clearance but he is a right-footed player who fed his team-mates early with consistently paced passes.

When danger threatened, he displayed toughness in the challenge against a strong physical test from two strikers in the first half.

In the second period, when his team were in the ascendancy, one of the opposing strikers was forced out wide.

Jones and his central colleague were able to maximise the two-v-one situation to give their team deep possession.

WHAT DOES HE NEED?

His pace looks satisfactory but no more than that. He competes in the air well, though, and certainly shows leadership. For a young man, he organises with calm authority.

There is not much of a critical nature to say here, even though Jones is only 19.

I really was very impressed. Often you need two or three looks at a young player — no two games are ever the same — but I was convinced this player was worth a positive report straight away.

Young and ensconced at a club who give youth a chance alongside shrewd signings, Jones looks as though he could have a good future with careful handling. A league loan lower down may be his next natural port of call.