Charlie Austin - 7/10

The fact he will almost certainly finish the season as Saints’ top scorer, despite being injured for more than half of it, sums things up in so many ways.

His untimely shoulder problem has been a major issue that, aside from one golden patch from Manolo Gabbiadini, Saints have never quite recovered from.

The club needs him to stay fit next season.

Ryan Bertrand - 8/10

The left back can be pleased with his contribution to the team.

Whether he will still be at St Mary’s next season remains to be seen given his form and the fact some big clubs are in the market for a player just like him.

His quality is not in question, and this season has been a triumph in relative terms. Has offered a lot going forward and has been solid in defence.

Sofiane Boufal - 4/10

That wonder goal against Sunderland aside it has been a very underwhelming first season for Boufal.

He is still young, playing in England for the first time and deserves the time to adapt and prove himself next time out.

However, when you are the club’s record signing at £16m and arrive to much fanfare, it doesn’t seem unfair to expect more than he has delivered.

Jordy Clasie - 4/10

There have been a few decent performances, but still too many that haven’t quite cut it.

To be brutal, Clasie has been a disappointing signing so far, just not quite able to deliver on what was promised by Ronald Koeman.

When Clasie signed Koeman was confident this second season would be the one where the Dutch midfielder stamped his mark on the team and on the division.

Instead, he has all but disappeared from sight.

Steven Davis - 7/10

You cannot help but feel that he has not been used in his best position, but yet again he has produced a phenomenal amount of work.

It might not be the glamorous option, but Saints have always looked better when Davis has played a more advanced role.

This season he has ended up settling into more of a holding position once the 4-2-3-1 returned.

He has done very well there, and, as always, given it his all, but his talents are constricted a little by his role.

Fraser Forster - 5/10

This has been a difficult season for Forster.

He has got an awful lot of criticism, much directed his way from Saints fans, and it has seemed to lead to a bit of a lack of self-belief in pressure moments.

Some of that criticism has been unfair, but even so it hasn’t been the vintage campaign he might have hoped for.

There have been signs that his confidence has been returning in the final few weeks.

Manolo Gabbiadini - 7/10

Gabbiadini’s January signing added a huge impetus to Saints.

Suddenly they had a goalscorer – six goals in four matches – and somebody who was making fantastic runs up top too.

His record prior to arriving at Saints suggested he was a bit of a streaky player and so it has proved.

Gabbiadini has looked a shadow of that deadly striker since returning from a minor injury.

We have seen his potential but he needs greater consistency in performances and not just goalscoring.

Pierre Hojbjerg - 5/10

Started with something of a bang as he got people talking with a few classy displays. However, since then he has struggled to get a regular run in the side and that has made it difficult for him to really shine when he has got an odd game here or there.

Hojbjerg is still one for the future and has done enough to deserve a bit of patience going into a second season in the Premier League.

Shane Long - 5/10

You can see the frustration written all over his face pretty much every matchday. He has gone from being voted the Daily Echo Player of the Season after a fantastic second half of last season to a bit-part player this time around.

His goalscoring form has been below what he would have liked, but the rotation has never really suited his desire to get a rhythm of games going.

In reality he has dropped down to at best third choice for one striking position when everybody is fit, and that is something he clearly is unhappy with.

Cuco Martina - 4/10

A regular in early season rotation for Europa League games and the like, but disappeared out of view after that.

In fairness to Martina, he only cost £1m and was only ever brought in to be a back-up and has ended up playing more games than most, probably himself included, would have expected.

However, he is out of contract at Saints and with Cedric Soares and the fit again Jeremy Pied ahead of him, there is very little prospect of him staying.

Sam McQueen - 7/10

Just as it seemed McQueen was destined not to make the grade at Saints, he had a huge breakthrough.

Saints were in need of a left back to cover for Ryan Bertrand, and with Matt Targett out injured Puel converted McQueen from a winger into a defender.

McQueen put in some sterling displays in his new position to suggest he has a lot about him, but the challenge is now to turn that into regular games if all three are fit next season.

Nathan Redmond - 7/10

When Redmond reflects on his first season with the club he can certainly be pleased with his efforts and how it has gone.

It was never going to be easy to have to effectively step into the boots of Sadio Mane, but Redmond has given it his best shot.

It is fair to say that he hasn’t scored as many goals as you might have ideally liked – though his contribution isn’t too shabby – and going forward it will be a case of trying to produce even more consistent performances.

Harrison Reed - 4/10

At the age of 22 you would be tempted to say that Reed really needs a breakthrough season and to go from fringe player to getting more game time.

But given Saints’ curious policy of handing out big contracts to some younger players that might not be true in at least one sense.

From a footballing perspective, one Premier League start – which saw Reed withdrawn at half time – and then a handful of cup appearances is not enough at an age when he needs to make progress.

Jay Rodriguez - 6/10

Still searching for that missing piece of the jigsaw.

Your heart goes out to Rodriguez, whose terrible injury problems halted what looked to be a glorious future.

He has worked hard to fight back, but it just hasn’t quite been the same.

There are rumours that this summer could see him get a fresh start away from Saints, and given he is down the pecking order but clearly needs a run of games to have a chance of returning to his previous levels maybe that might not be a bad thing for him.

Whatever, as his recent goal at Middlesbrough proved, his class has not gone away.

Oriol Romeu - 9/10

The stand-out player of the Saints side this season.

When Claude Puel points to the positives of his management, then the development of Romeu is right up there. He has become a mainstay of the Saints midfield, and deservedly a landslide winner of the Player of the Season award.

His contribution has been key and he is a big player for the future too. Saints must fight to keep hold of this summer if there is interest from elsewhere.

Josh Sims - 5/10

Two notable contributions – a first start against Everton and the run on the break that provided Shane Long with the chance to secure Saints’ place at Wembley with a win at Liverpool – but unable to really capitalise beyond that.

Puel has shown some faith in Sims, and given him chances in an area of the team where he has more experienced players.

To take the next step forward will require more consistency than he has shown so far, which at 20-years-old should now be forthcoming.

Cedric Soares - 7/10

On the back of his Euro 2016 win with Portugal it has been a steady if not spectacular season from Cedric Soares.

He has been without doubt the first choice right back for Claude Puel with Jeremy Pied out injured, and has done a decent enough job.

He has got forward well at times and added something to the Saints attack.

His defensive duties have been a little more hit and miss but he does look at ease playing in the Premier League and has clearly adapted to the physical demands now.

Jack Stephens - 8/10

Has seized the opportunity handed to him by the sale of Jose Fonte and injury to Virgil van Dijk to make an impressive impact on the first team.

Saints will undoubtedly sign at least one central defender this summer, no matter what the future holds for van Dijk, but Stephens has done all he can to put himself into the reckoning going forward.

Dusan Tadic - 7/10

It’s been a mixture of inspiration and frustration for Tadic over the course of the season.

He has got a lot of starts, but his public complaint over his constant substitutions caused a bit of angst behind the scenes at Saints.

Tadic has worked hard during the campaign, but the flashes of inspiration Saints really need from him in an attacking sense have been a little inconsistent.

It certainly has not been a poor season from the Serbian, but not an exceptional one either.

Matt Targett - 5/10

He never got the chance to get a run of games to showcase his talents thanks to injury problems, which ultimately resulted in an extended spell on the sidelines.

The emergence of McQueen during his absence has given him plenty to ponder when it comes to his place in the left back pecking order.

James Ward-Prowse - 7/10

Has made the transition from a player who would get some games but struggle for a consistent run to somebody who can bank on being in the reckoning for every match.

His form was rewarded with an England call-up, and he has certainly developed and matured nicely under Puel’s tutelage.

He does still need to add more goals, but he is clearly improving and the future looks bright for him.

Maya Yoshida - 8/1

Fair play to Yoshida for stepping up and proving what he can do in trying circumstances.

Up until this season his Saints career has always seen him cast in the role as first reserve for a centre back slot.

That lack of consistent matches has at times negatively affected him when he has got a game, and he has come in for a lot of stick for the odd mistake here and there.

The dearth of central defenders has led to him becoming a mainstay in the side and he has produced a long string of consistent displays.

Virgil van Dijk 7/10

It all seemed so easy to van Dijk that he was almost cruising through games and still putting in fantastic performances. It just seemed he was on a continual upward curve.

But then his injury struck, and the second half of the season has seen him undergo surgery and then rehab, forcing him out of the side.

He is the highest class player in the Saints squad, and clearly coveted by a number of Premier League guns.

Whether we will see him play for Saints again is certainly in the balance.

Players require a minimum of five first team starts in all competitions to get a rating