Southampton’s famed academy is well-known for producing a plethora of Premier League stars, namely Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier.
The south coast club have always placed great emphasis on developing young talent and giving them a platform to perform in the first team.
Jack Stephens and Will Smallbone are the current examples and indeed James Ward-Prowse before his £30m switch to West Ham United last summer.
Russell Martin has fielded a Saints team with an average age of 23 years and nine months old this term, as per Transfermarkt.
That evinces his willingness and trust in young players and with that said, Southampton News has taken a look at three starlets from the academy who break into the senior side.
Dom Ballard
Most Southampton fans are probably well aware of Dom Ballard, who has been making noise for the under-21s.
The prolific 2005-born forward has made four appearances for the first team and is already off the mark, scoring in a 3-0 EFL Cup win against Cambridge United in 2022.
X account Saints Analysis described him as the club’s ‘best talent for years’ and his goal record certainly backs up that claim.
He netted eight times in four outings for the reserve side earlier this season before League One outfit Reading snapped him up on a season-long loan on deadline day.
Ballard, who has been capped eight times by England’s under-19s, scored three goals in six starts for The Royals before sustaining a patella injury which required surgery.
He is to miss the remainder of the season but could return for the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
Samuel Amo-Ameyaw
Samuel Amo-Ameyaw is another promising Saints starlet who has appeared for the senior side already.
The 17-year-old has made eight appearances and is regularly on the bench for Martin’s side having impressed in the reserve set-up.
Amo-Ameyaw joined the South Coasters in the summer of 2022 from Tottenham Hotspur and has racked up 19 games in the Premier League 2, scoring eight goals whilst laying on three assists.
The left-footed wide player is an England youth international.
Tyler Dibling
Formerly of Chelsea’s academy, Tyler Dibling is the top assister for Southampton’s under-21s this season with four.
The 18-year-old has made four outings for the senior team and looks well-placed to become a fixture of Martin’s squad next season.
Dibling has registered eight goal contributions in 11 starts in the PL2 this year and after making his Championship debut in Janaury, Martin heaped praise on the promising youngster.
“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 Saints boss said.
“The challenge for Tyler will be now and until he establishes himself in the team, which I hope he does here under us.”