Russell Martin knows he has a real talent on his hands in Southampton academy product Tyler Dibling.
Southampton are famed for their academy and Russell Martin is reaping the rewards of that in 18-year-old pair Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Tyler Dibling.
Both players have featured off the bench in the Premier League this season, as well as starting in the 5-3 win over Cardiff City in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Amo-Ameyaw scored his first senior goal in that game, whilst Dibling provided two assists on a positive night for the Southampton academy.
It is Dibling who has made the biggest impact in the league, though, with the midfielder impressing coming off the bench in all three games so far and the clamour for Martin to hand him a start is now becoming difficult to ignore.
Southampton ace Tyler Dibling shows Russell Martin his talents with England goal
Dibling’s impact has been one of the few positives for Southampton as they have started their Premier League return with three defeats from three in the competition.
Next up for the Saints is Manchester United on Saturday and Dibling has utilised his time away with England under-19s to show his club manager he is ready to make his mark.
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Dibling featured for England under-19s as he scored an incredible solo goal in Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat against Germany.
Dibling picked up the ball just inside the Germany half before evading three German players on a mazy run that ended with him firing into the far corner from outside the box.
With England under-19s playing three games in the international break, Dibling only played the last 15 minutes on Tuesday, whilst Amo-Ameyaw was withdrawn on 75 minutes after providing an assist.
Martin must unleash Dibling as Southampton welcome Man Utd
Martin is understandably keen to ease Dibling in to the Southampton side given his age but it is becoming very difficult to hold him back.
Dibling is brimming with confidence and the struggling Saints could do with some of his fearlessness as they look to turn around their poor start to the campaign.
Dibling has been on Martin’s radar since the manager took over last summer and the Saints boss spoke on the youngster after handing him his league debut against Sheffield Wednesday in January.
Martin told the Daily Echo about the then-17-year-old: “He’s ready, otherwise he wouldn’t get on the pitch.
“He can do special things and physically he is very good but I don’t want to build him up too much because he is only 17.
“The challenge for Tyler will be now and until he establishes himself in the team, which I hope he does here under us.”
Clearly, Dibling has developed enormously in the eight months since then and he now looks ready to take the next step at Southampton in the Premier League.