James Ward-Prowse making impression as he fixes sights on David Beckham’s record

James Ward-Prowse has made his mark imitating English football’s biggest names on and off the field in recent months.

The Southampton skipper has established himself as one of the finest set piece takers around with years of studying David Beckham’s technique and replicating it in training paying dividends.

Ward-Prowse is now just six goals behind his boyhood hero’s Premier League record of 18 goals from direct free-kicks – a marker the midfielder would love to beat.

“That would be an incredible achievement and it’s a good lesson for me in life that if you work hard at a particular skill you can reap the rewards of it,” the 27-year-old Saints captain said.

“To beat someone like that I think would be incredibly impressive, but the funny thing is Beckham obviously went on to play in other countries and I’ve had a long time in the Premier League. I think it speaks a lot about his quality.

“It’s a good target to have in the back of my mind.

“Being English and seeing the magical moments that he’s created in an England shirt, he was the one I would race out into the garden to try and emulate and copy.

“I had a few of his hairstyles as well along the way and the boots.

“I’d love to meet him one day and have a coffee and a chat and just pick his brains. Hopefully if I can reach the record then hopefully he may reach out. We’ll see.”

Being English and seeing the magical moments that he’s created in an England shirt, he was the one I would race out into the garden to try and emulate and copy- James Ward-Prowse on David Beckham

While Ward-Prowse has managed to get near Beckham’s on-field exploits, he has been unable to add him to his list of impersonations.

The midfielder made waves last month when wowing Gary Neville and Jamie