According to reports in the Daily Echo, out-of-favour Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse is working hard during the international break to convince manager Mauricio Pellegrino that he should be a regular fixture in the starting XI.

While he began the season in the team for the visit of Swansea City on the opening day of the Premier League campaign, the 22-year-old has started just one game in the top flight since then, where was taken off at half-time in the disappointing 2-0 defeat to Watford at St Mary's.

The midfielder has featured for just 12 minutes of Saints' last three league games, and he will be hoping to be involved from the start against Newcastle United on October 15.

Ward-Prowse is used to being away with the England Under-21 side during the international break having been the captain of the young Three Lions, but now he is too old to feature for them and he is yet to work his way into Gareth Southgate's plans despite winning his first cap in March, he has had time impress Pellegrino at the south coast outfit's Staplewood base this week.

However, here are three reasons Ward-Prowse shouldn't start for Saints any time soon…

His preferred position

According to the interview in the Daily Echo, Ward-Prowse says that his preferred position is as a deep-lying central midfielder but with Oriol Romeu and new boy Mario Lemina already looking like a promising partnership in the middle of the park, Pellegrino can’t afford to take either out of the team.

While Ward-Prowse would perhaps be comfortable in possession, he doesn't have the same strength and tackling ability that Romeu has, while he also doesn't have the skill and turn of pace to bring the ball forward that Lemina has already shown that he is able to bring to the table.

The 4-2-3-1 formation

If Mauricio Pellegrino is to persist with the 4-2-3-1 formation – which it seems as though he is right now with his apparent reluctance to play two up top – and Ward-Prowse doesn't play as one of the deep-lying central midfielders, he doesn't really fit in anywhere else.

While he may be able to produce a good delivery, the 22-year-old doesn't have the pace or skill to operate out wide, while he looked like a duck out of water when he played in the number 10 role in the first 45 minutes against Watford, having little impact and showing no creativity before he was replaced by Dusan Tadic at half-time.

Open play contribution

While you often hear pundits and managers waxing lyrical about Ward-Prowse's set-piece delivery – which can be very impressive at times – the 22-year-old still doesn't do enough from open play to warrant starting every week.

Both Mauricio Pellegrino and the supporters don't know what the midfielder's best position in the current system is, and until they decide that and he makes more of an impact on the pitch – when he isn't taking a free-kick or a corner – then he shouldn't be able to stake his claim for a spot in the starting XI.

Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.