The Southampton youngster who had a very different afternoon to Romeo Akachukwu

Romeo Akachukwu is now off the mark as a senior Southampton player.

Impressing in pre-season with energetic displays, the Irishman has now been gifted a dream start to the 2026/27 season for his boyhood club, as he smashed home the decisive second goal against Colchester United on Saturday afternoon to ensure the Saints won in the EFL Cup 2-0.

He will want to kick on and offer even more, away from just having this brief moment in the spotlight, with Tonda Eckert complimentary of Akachukwu at the full-time whistle.

Akachukwu's role for the season

The exciting 20-year-old only needed ten minutes of action to make his presence known, with the wide-eyed number 29 confidently finishing off a free-flowing move right at the death of the showdown in Essex, after Finn Azaz expertly found him in space.

It would have been a sweet strike for Akachukwu, as he played for the U's last season in League Two, so he got one over on his former side, all while strengthening his presence in the first team picture on the South Coast.

While Ben Brereton Diaz seriously underwhelmed, Akachukwu stood out, with a spot among the senior team - likely the substitutes’ bench again - surely coming his way against Watford.

At the full-time whistle, Eckert praised his impactful number 29, stating that this goal is a moment for "him to enjoy" but he is unsure what the plan is for the raw 20-year-old going forward.

He could potentially be loaned out, again, to further his development, but the German did admit he's done enough in spurts to show that he is "ready knock on the door" of the settled first team.

If he is loaned out, he will hope he has a better debut in his new surroundings than this other unfortunate Southampton youngster...

This other Saints youngster is struggling

It wouldn't be shock if the loan route was taken with Akachukwu, with the likes of Jay Robinson recently loaned out to Serie A outfit AC Monza, to link up with forgotten St Mary's boss Ivan Juric.

Tommy Dobson-Ventura has been handed a loan deal a lot closer to home, than jetting off to Italy, with the 6-foot-3 centre-back, who is only 19 years of age, signing for National League outfit Eastleigh recently, who Southampton often play in pre-season as a near neighbour.

This is the teenager's first taste of men's action, having only ever been exposed to U18s and U21s football back on home turf, with Dobson-Ventura collecting four goals and four assists from 96 youth appearances on the South Coast to date.

Clearly, he is a defender who is capable with the ball at his feet, and one the Saints hold high hopes for, alongside Akachukwu.

Unfortunately for the brand-new Eastleigh number 19, his debut for the Spitfires was a bruising affair, as the 19-year-old was taken off on the 59th minute through injury, hours before Southampton's well fought 2-0 win in the EFL Cup, as Eastleigh's National League campaign kicked off against Gateshead.

Hopefully, this is just a minor setback for the former England U17 international, as Dobson-Ventura was noted as being "really excited" by the chance to prove himself at Matt Gray's side, when first signing.

Having penned a contract extension at St, Mary's at the close of July, as well, which keeps him at the club until 2027, Dobson-Ventura will pray his senior moment to shine at Southampton comes soon.

Firstly, though, he will need to battle hard with the Spitfires, with Akachukwu overflowing with confidence after his formative loan stay with Colchester.

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