Dominic Gape wants to prove his worth while on loan at Wycombe Wanderers and make the most of playing the first team football he has craved.

The Southampton youngster is on a short-term deal from the Premier League club which keeps him at Adams Park until January 3.

He was handed his first Wanderers start in the 4-2 defeat to Portsmouth on Saturday and is eager to push on during his time at the club.

“I am hoping to prove myself, to get out there a little bit more. This is what I have been working for, three o’clock on a Saturday, men’s games, crowds and three points that matter,” Gape said.

“It is more physical and the tempo is more end to end. There is a bit more respect in the under-21s and it is a bit more a case of you have it then we have it.

“I am getting used to that, working off second balls and trying to play my football when the opportunity arises.”

In a feverish Fratton park atmosphere, Gape more than held his own as he made up for his diminutive stature with efficient use of the ball.

It would be easy for someone of Gape’s 5ft 7in build to get lost in the overtly physical world of League Two football, but he believes he has the quality to prosper.

“I can get about, hold my own and I back myself in a tackle. I am working hard in the gym to make sure I make up for my size and I can handle myself,” Gape explained.

“I like to think I can use my height to my advantage. I’m small, nippy, have a good centre of balance and have a good leap so can challenge in the air as well.”

Gape, who turned 22 last Friday, has predominantly played as a defensive midfielder during his education with the Saints.

He showed plenty of attacking instinct on Saturday, however, and twice came close to dragging Wanderers back into the game with the score at 4-2.

His second effort was particularly impressive as he flashed a shot from distance just wide of the upright.

Goalscoring is a facet of his game which Gape hopes to improve on and he has been given free rein to shoot by manager Gareth Ainsworth.

“He spoke to me in training and told me if I get the opportunity to shoot rather than try and fiddle balls in from the edge of the box,” Gape said.

“I have a good strike on me, so [scoring goals] is something I need to add to my game and is something I am looking to work on.

“Usually I play more defensively but I do it (shoot from distance) regularly in training and I want to implement that in my game and show that I can score goals.”