Southampton have touched down in Spain ready to step up their pre-season preparations with a double-header of friendlies against French opposition.
Russell Martin got his first proper look at returning squad on Friday night as Southampton kicked off their pre-season schedule with a 7-1 friendly win over Eastleigh.
Adam Armstrong celebrated his new contract with a brace, whilst new signing Yukinari Sugawara marked his debut with a goal.
The other four goals were scored by Will Smallbone, Carlos Alcaraz, Ryan Manning and Sekou Mara from the penalty spot.
There were also a few academy talents on display, with Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Tyler Dibling particularly impressive, but it is two youth players who did not feature that have been surprise additions to the squad in Spain.
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Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Nathanael Boot spotted in Southampton pre-season camp
Both Amo-Ameyaw and Dibling have been included in the squad that has arrived in Spain ready for a week of hard work alongside friendlies with Bordeaux and Montpellier.
They have been joined by Jan Bednarek, who has now returned from his extended summer break which owed to his participation in Euro 2024.
However, footage from the first warm weather training session has seen two surprise faces added to the first-team group.
Southampton posted a video on their official ‘X’ account with the caption ‘straight to work’ that showed academy duo Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Nathanael Boot have been included in the trip to Spain with the first team.
On the other end of the age spectrum, 30-year-old Paul Onuachu was also spotted for the first time this summer as the striker looks to secure a move away from the club this summer.
Who are Southampton duo O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Boot?
O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Boot will both undoubtedly be thrilled to have earned the call-up to the senior side from Martin.
Given their age and the fact neither player has ever made a senior appearance in England, Southampton fans can be forgiven for not knowing too much about the pair.
O’Brien-Whitmarsh only arrived at the Saints in January from Irish club Cork City for whom he played 27 senior games in the top flight, scoring four and assisting one.
Still only 19, O’Brien-Whitmarsh is an attacking midfielder who is very two-footed and loves to score and create.
Boot is the more surprisingly inclusion of the two given he was not a player considered to be on Martin’s radar just yet.
Boot is an 18-year-old centre-back who made the switch from Bournemouth to Southampton in 2022 before signing his first professional contract a year later.
Given he is yet to even feature for Southampton’s under-21 side, this represents a huge show of faith from Martin and provides Boot with a real opportunity to impress.