Southampton’s first-team will kick off their pre-season fixtures against Eastleigh on Friday 19th July, but an under-21 side will face seventh-tier AFC Totton on Saturday.
Russell Martin will be using this summer’s pre-season matches to get his Southampton side ready for the Premier League.
After the game against National League Eastleigh on the 19th July, Southampton will travel to Spain for a training camp in which they will play against French clubs Montpellier and Bordeaux; from whom the Saints signed Sekou Mara two years ago.
Currently, the only other friendly in Southampton’s summer schedule is a trip to face Millwall on Saturday 3rd August, but fans should expect one or two more fixtures to be added.
However, the Saints are set to send an XI to face Totton on Saturday 13th July which is expected to consist mainly of under-21 players.
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With Martin confirmed to be in attendance, here are three young talents who could impress the first-team boss.
Sonnie Davis could follow in father’s footsteps at Southampton
The first of these is Sonnie Davis, the 19-year-old son of Southampton’s legendary goalkeeper, Kelvin.
Davis senior played for the Saints for a decade between 2006 and 2016, helping the club to consecutive promotions from League One to the Premier League between 2010 and 2012.
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Having stayed on at Southampton as a coach following his retirement as a player, Kelvin now manages the Saints’ first proper pre-season opponents in Eastleigh.
Now could be the time for son Sonnie to make his own name at the club, having signed a professional contract last summer.
Davis junior is a right-back with an old-fashioned style – his shirt always tucked in and a no nonsense approach – but he is very much a modern full-back in the way he is very comfortable in possession.
It has been reported that Davis is seeking his first loan move this summer, but he could put himself firmly on Martin’s radar with a good performance against Totton.
Nico Lawrence could continue to impress Russell Martin
Nico Lawrence is a 20-year-old centre-back who ended last season training with the first team.
Having been sent on loan to Colchester United last summer, it should have been an invaluable experience of senior football but Lawrence played just four games before sustaining an injury that would see him return to Southampton for treatment.
Martin spoke on Lawrence last season, as he explained why he decided against another loan for the youngster following his recovery from injury.
Martin said: “There were a few clubs interested in taking him on loan but he has been out of the building for a while and I have not seen much of him.
“I really like what I have seen in the short period of a few days that we have trained. I sat down and had a conversation with him.
“It was with Olly Lancashire, Carl Martin and Jason Wilcox as well, and I want to see more of him so he will train with us every day.”
With that in mind, Saturday’s friendly against Totton could provide Lawrence with the opportunity to show Martin he should remain in the first-team picture.
Martin could get glimpse of January signing Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh
The third and final player who could gain catch Martin’s eye is 19-year-old Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh.
O’Brien-Whitmarsh actually signed for the club in January from Cork City in Ireland, with the Saints beating a number of sides to his signature.
Having scored four goals in 27 senior appearances for Cork City, Southampton won the race for O’Brien-Whitmarsh’s signing and the midfielder will be keen to make his mark against Totton.
Describing his playing style upon signing for Southampton, O’Brien-Whitmarsh said: “I’m a two-footed number 10, I love to get goals and chip in all over the place to create chances. It seems like an environment here that I can thrive in so I’m looking forward to it.”