Southampton U21's silverware challenge was made an uphill battle from the start due to Divin Mubama's score-sheet heroics and the Manchester City starlet is being lined up for a future Championship face-off against Will Still's men.
Roughly a month ago, Southampton fans tuned in to watch their biggest game of the season. Surely, that wasn't a Premier League survival test but an actual title challenge where the young Saints were ninety minutes away from putting a smile among the wins-deprived fanbase.
Even on paper, the best English talent academy going head-to-head with the finest young crop among the Big-Six clubs was going to be a treat to watch but the first half was enough for the hopeful Southampton fans to turn hopeless again. And the man who started inflicting the runners-up blows was Manchester City's number nine gem, Divin Mubama.
Biases aside, Mubama was phenomenal in that opening half and whenever an emerging prospect puts in such a playing shift, he's almost guaranteed to secure a senior football ticket when the next transfer window opens up.
Mubama may target a masterclass against Southampton's first-team
And that deserving jump could have come in the Premier League but for now, Mubama might have no problems rivalling Southampton's men's side in the Championship. In his own words, journalist Fraser Fletcher said: "Divin Mubama a real possibility for Stoke on loan from Manchester City."
In last season's Carabao Cup, Stoke City made the long trip to St. Mary's which was the most nail-biting victory Saints accomplished throughout the year. Hence, Stoke might have longed for a fitting on-field response which could be a driving factor behind their need for a forward who excelled in front of a Southampton squad.
Or maybe, they wish to seek inspiration from a Coventry City-like second division rise. After all, the Saints too admire them and won't mind pleading to them in order to attain one of English football's most sought after wonderkids.