RONALD Koeman has revealed that he has not selected many of Saints’ academy players because they are simply not close to the required Premier League standard.

Koeman went to see Saints’ Under-21s beat Chelsea 1-0 as they began their defence of the Premier League Under-21 Cup on Wednesday.

However, he wasn’t impressed by what he saw from the club’s youngsters.

Saints’ famed academy has produced the likes of Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw, Theo Walcott and Adam Lallana and is seen as a valuable conveyor belt for England stars of the future.

But it seems the latest crop aren’t up to scratch.

“I wasn’t impressed, no,” he said. “I look to the development of young players and still they have to learn a lot and [they are] still not on the level what you need for Premier League.

“But that’s young players, they need time, it’s more difficult to come in the first-team of Southampton than it was four years ago.”

Koeman revealed that only a few of the academy stars are on his radar for first-team selection and that many are far off the level necessary to play in the top-flight.

“A long way, some, yes,” he said. “For some too long and for some it’s shorter because you have to recognise that Chelsea under-21 had better players.

“That’s normal, they are Chelsea, but final result was 1-0 for Southampton. It’s not all about qualities – it’s about team-work.

“We are looking to the individual development of young players and, of course, Ryan Seager scored a goal. He didn’t start well in the game, but he scored very good goal.

“He’s one of the players who did also some training session with the first-team and to know what the level is to play in the first team.”

He added: “The players that play, Matthew Targett, he is ready to play in the first-team but he’s a little bit unlucky because in front of him is Ryan Bertrand.

“It is an English international player, but he will come, Matthew, I don’t have doubts about that.

“Harrison Reed is close to the first-team.

“The rest? Not so close.”