How did this Southampton youngster fare on his starting debut at his new loan team?

Southampton's attacking display on the road against Watford left a lot to be desired.

Cyle Larin did pop up with a stabbed home effort, but Leo Scienza, Lewis Dobbin, and Kuryu Matsuki all failed to register a single shot on target, away from the Canadian scoring, leading to Tonda Eckert's men having to stomach a disappointing 2-1 defeat on the opening day of the Championship.

Not even the late substitute addition of new loan signing Divin Mubama could inspire a late comeback, with the German praying for a more lethal display against Stoke City on Saturday so his bottom of the table side can pick up their first league victory of the season.

Nicholas Oyekunle won't be in line for an appearance against the Potters, though, despite the misfiring performances on show, as the promising 19-year-old is currently out on loan at Leyton Orient.

He has just made his starting debut for new employers, too, with the brand-new O's number 49 handed a 68-minute runout in the EFL Trophy group stages versus fellow League One side AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

Oyekunle's debut at Orient

With Southampton set to sell the likes of Cameron Archer and Ben Brereton Diaz this summer, you might have expected Oyekunle to stay, so he could be back-up to the likes of Mubama.

Instead, he has been shifted out on loan to League One, with regular first-team football at Brisbane Road hopefully proving to be beneficial, as he only has four senior appearances under his belt on the South Coast.

Orient will hope they can unearth the same red-hot striker that has seen the 19-year-old bag 49 goals previously in the Saints U18s and U21s ranks, but he remains without a goal under Richie Wellens for the time being, from two outings.

He was only on the pitch for 17 minutes during his league debut against Sheffield Wednesday, so it would've been hard to read too much into that cameo, but he showed some glimpses of promise during his 68 minute spell against the Dons this mid-week.

The raw 19-year-old managed to register one shot on target, win three duels, and even complete a key pass.

He was eventually replaced by Jaze Kabia, who led the line against the Owls, but there were signs in his Tuesday night display to indicate he will be in amongst the goals this season for the third tier outfit, when he's more up to speed with his unfamiliar location.

Down the line, after this loan spell has shaped him, Oyekunle will hope to be knocking on the door of the first team back at St. Mary's.

He will hope he can make it at the Saints

This will be easier said than done, though, as youngsters often end up inadvertently being chucked on a merry-go-round of loan spells, rather than cutting their teeth back at their parent side.

In Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh's unfortunate story, as well, although he was highly rated and excelled out on loan at Accrington Stanley, he ended up just never being utilised effectively in the senior side, with his permanent exit to Northampton Town only recently announced.

He was a victim of Eckert having too many midfield options to choose from, with Shea Charles, Caspar Jander, Flynn Downes, and Cameron Bragg all above him in the pecking order.

If the Saints do end up having a clear out of their deadwood attackers this summer, with Damion Downs another reserve figure tipped to be leaving the building, a spot for Oyekunle might open up where he can be a second-in-command striker presence to the well-established Larin.

If he does end up flopping at Orient, though, this dream scenario will likely not play out.

The teenage sensation is better placed, right now, to just take it a game at a time in his fresh surroundings and not be obsessed about any possible future glories, with his first start for the O's against Wimbledon promising in patches.

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