Russell Martin will be spending every hour of the international break trying to devise a plan to help his Southampton side beat Leicester City at St Mary’s in the first game back.
Russell Martin cannot afford to look further than one game ahead given his position at Southampton is a precarious one.
Southampton have avoided defeat just once in seven Premier League games since promotion, earning a point in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.
A dismal start to the campaign, Southampton fans have had little to cheer about, but the emergence of academy gem Tyler Dibling has given supporters cause for optimism.
Tyler Dibling returns to Southampton after England withdrawal
18-year-old Dibling was the standout performer in pre-season before a number of positive cameos off the bench saw Martin left with little choice but to throw the midfielder in for his first Premier League start against Manchester United.
Southampton lost that game 3-0, but a star was born as Dibling ran the United defenders ragged and even won a penalty that Cameron Archer saw saved.
Dibling was the goalscorer in the 1-1 draw against Ipswich and has continued to impress on a weekly basis.
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The teenager was agains called up to England under-19s this international break alongside Saints teammate Sam Amo-Ameyaw, but has subsequently withdrawn.
Southampton journalost Alfie House has provided an update on this on X, posting: “Tyler Dibling did not join up with Sam Amo-Ameyaw and England under-19s this week with the FA stating he had ‘withdrawn through injury’, to be replaced by Chelsea’s Tyrique George.
“Hopefully, just a case of having played a lot of minutes and not needing the additional.”
Dibling already crucial to Southampton survival chances
Southampton will be sweating on Dibling’s fitness, showing just how remarkable his rise has been in such a short space of time.
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Southampton were planning to send Dibling out on loan this summer but his performances in pre-season made Martin decide to keep him around.
He will be glad he did, as Dibling has quickly become Southampton’s most dangerous attacker and has cemented a starting spot on the right wing.
It is testament to his progression that were Dibling to miss the game against Leicester it would be considered a huge blow, so Saints supporters will have everything crossed that his England withdrawal is merely a precaution.