Gavin Bazunu and Southampton prediction made amid comparison with Bournemouth and Liverpool men

Gavin Bazunu has been backed to be the first choice goalkeeper at Southampton by his Republic of Ireland team-mate Aaron Connolly.

Following his summer transfer from Manchester City, the 20-year-old is competing with Alex McCarthy to be the first name on the teamsheet when the Premier League season starts for Southampton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, August 6, with Bazunu impressing so far in pre-season as he stakes his claim to be picked.

He is yet to concede a goal in a Southampton shirt after playing 45 minutes against RB Leipzig and the full game as Saints drew 0-0 with Watford on Saturday, with Bazunu hoping to make his first appearance at St Mary's this week as Ralph Hasenhuttl's side face AS Monaco and Villarreal in their final two friendlies before the new campaign.

And Bazunu is being tipped to win the battle to be the first choice goalkeeper by his international team-mate Connolly, who is currently on loan at Italian side Venezia from Saints' Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion. Indeed, the Seagulls striker has compared Bazunu to the other Irish goalkeepers he is competing with at senior international level.

"The three goalkeepers, I think any of them could be number one. Mark [Travers] was top at Bournemouth last season and Caoimhin [Kelleher] when he played in the Carabao Cup with [Liverpool]," Connolly said, speaking to the Irish Football Fan TV podcast.

"Gavin [Bazunu] has just gone to Southampton and he has really kicked on since the U21s. If I remember right, [St Patrick's Athletic goalkeeper] Brian Maher was the goalkeeper [in the U21 team], but it just shows how much Gavin has kicked on, to get a move to a top Premier League side and now he looks to be the number one there