The low profile Southampton youngster who could soon break into the first team

Several Southampton youngsters have impressed during pre-season, so much so, that Tonda Eckert hasn't ruled out there being a youthful flavour to his first-team squads in competitive action.

After the Saints' final pre-season runout in Germany, Eckert acknowledged that both Nick Oyekunle and Romeo Akachukwu had impressed him this summer so far with their "hungry" displays, with a conversation needing to be had about their involvement in the senior picture.

Southampton has a proud track record of giving their homegrown youngsters a chance in the first team fold, with Tyler Dibling going on to win himself a big move to Everton last year, after being bumped up into the men's team by Russell Martin.

The hope will be, therefore, that Oyekunle and Akachukwu can thrive, if exposed to the gruelling demands of the men's game more, but it's not just his pair in isolation who are catching the eye from the U21 ranks.

The low profile youngster who is also impressing

Southampton have a strong Irish contingent currently.

Both Finn Azaz and Ryan Manning have represented the Republic of Ireland in recent memory, and will be key parts of Eckert's promotion-chasing team this coming season.

Akachukwu is also of Irish origin, having previously lined up for Waterford in his home country, before making the move to the Saints’ youth picture.

Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh is yet another exciting player who hails from these isles, with the 21-year-old born in Cork. He hasn't looked homesick whatsoever on the South Coast, though, when assessing his very impressive youth numbers.

Previously on the books of Cork City, O'Brien Whitmarsh now has nine goals and five assists next to his name from 43 U21 appearances with the Saints, with one of those goals coming about in April when he spectacularly smashed home this unbelievable effort.

He also has featured this pre-season under Eckert and been praised, with avid Southampton writer Christian Lovegrove noting that the academy sensation looked "aggressive", partnered with Flynn Downes, against SC Preußen Münster.

He hasn't been as widely hyped up as Oyekunle or his fellow compatriot in Akachukwu, but he could soon break into the first-team picture.

Could he soon break into the first team?

At 21 years of age, he is at a formative age where first team football needs to be arriving at his door.

It's not absurd to suggest he could receive just that this coming season at St. Mary's, with Eckert loving to throw Cameron Bragg into the deep end of Championship football last campaign, as another promising midfield youngster.

Unfortunately for O'Brien Whitmarsh, the midfield ranks are stacked on the South Coast, with Flynn Downes, Caspar Jander and Shea Charles a very talented central midfield trio for the Championship, so, if he is drip fed minutes in the men's team, they're going to be irregular.

Another loan move could be a good avenue for the 21-year-old to explore, as he has stood out previously in the lower depths of the EFL with Accrington Stanley.

But, do not rule out some Championship games coming his way here and there next season, as Eckert utilises his full squad in the quest to win promotion.

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