Pep Guardiola: 'James Ward-Prowse the best set-piece taker in world football'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse as the 'best set-piece taker in the world' ahead of their Premier League encounter at St Mary's on Saturday evening.

Ward-Prowse scored a stunning 35-yard free kick in the 3-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, which moved him level with Premier League icons Thierry Henry and Gianfranco Zola on 12 goals from direct free kicks, with only David Beckham (18) having scored more in the competition's history.

Guardiola has heaped praise on the England international's all-round game as well as his qualities from dead-ball situations, and he has suggested that his team need to 'pay attention' when they face the 27-year-old this weekend.

"[Ward-Prowse] is the best taker I have ever seen, right now in the world," the Spaniard told the press on Friday.

"No player is a better taker than Ward-Prowse. He is so good, maybe we miss a little bit this quality of a football player.

"A guy who adapts in the same position, he's a team player, great quality without the ball, with the ball, understanding the game. Set pieces and corners is exceptional. We need to pay more attention."

Ward-Prowse, who has recently been linked with a move to Man City, has scored two goals in 18 appearances against them, both of which were at the Etihad Stadium and neither were from a direct free kick.