harding made his southampton debut in the opening game of the season at left-back in a 1–1 draw against millwall. harding then scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with brentford on 22 august 2009. his second goal came on 12 december 2009 in a 3–0 win over tranmere rovers and his third on 13 march 2010 in a 1–0 win over leeds united. in march 2010 harding played in the football league trophy final at right-back in a 4–1 win over carlisle united. harding finished his first season at southampton with forty-two appearances.