Southampton's academy trio who needs to start auditioning for their first team capabilities in the wake of Calum McFarlane's unexpected exit.
Slowly but gradually, Southampton are nearing the days when they will have their full-fledged squad getting a taste of Will Still's training methods. And considering the young tactician Still is, it's a no-brainer to believe that promising academy talents will get their fair share of opportunities to impress him.
Now, this excitement has been converted into an urgency with the Daily Echo pointing out U21 boss Calum McFarlane's impending exit. Honestly, this news will come as a harsh blow to those homegrown stars who had just begun their upward trajectory under McFarlane's guidance.
Plus, nowadays the Saints age-level side is also going through quick manager shuffles, which is the last thing emerging players ever want. Hence, the best time for them to take the first-team leap is now, else, they will be forced to consider lower division adventures later which surely they never dreamed of in the first place.
That being said, let's look at Southampton's Premier League 2 trio who can trace the senior team steps as Jay Robinson and Joachim Kayi Sanda did.
Three Saints who should eye Premier League promotion medal
Cameron Bragg
When Bragg returned from his nightmarish Crawley Town spell, it was difficult for any Saints fan to label him as a prodigy anymore. And that's the blunt reality of a terrible third-division showing, after all, the academy gems touted as Southampton's future starlets shouldn't appear as a shadow of themselves while playing below the Championship.
Further, Bragg also knew that his make-or-break season had gone the undesirable way but how he responded deserves a round of applause. A starring role in the playoff knockouts and cementing himself back to the midfield fold should be enough for Still to keep him in his selection plans.
Dom Ballard
Arguably the best finisher who has progressed through Southampton's youth ranks in the past couple of years. Yet, attackers are always judged on their scoring calibre which restricts Ballard as a good-for-youth level but needs to navigate the learning curve in the senior game.
Whether he admires Adam Armstrong as the finest current striker is unknown but these striking limitations convey that he might mirror the 28-year-old's career path. Even then, let's stay optimistic that Ballard delivers the goods whenever Still wishes to count upon him.
Moses Sesay
Back in January, Sesay was drawing raving comments for his range of versatility throughout the pitch. Until a few days ago, Southampton used to have such an all-action player in the form of Kyle Walker-Peters and undoubtedly, it's an open chance for Sesay to step up in practice sessions and claim at least a reserve squad role for the beginning of the Championship season.
Agreed, he shouldn't be the right-back St. Mary's need but banking on his potential could be worth it if Sesay can develop a Romeo Lavia-like profile in the middle of the park.