Three Southampton starlets who are ready to answer Tonda Eckert’s first-team call

Tonda Eckert has revealed that he could be open to including some U21 stars in his upcoming Southampton lineups.

In the build-up to Saturday's Championship encounter with Queens Park Rangers, a number of U21 players have been training with the first-team ranks, and the German has been vocal about his intentions with the up-and-coming players.

He said, prior to the R's clash, that the youngsters "need to be ready" in case the door opens for them to enter the senior side, with Adam Lallana's U21s boasting a lot of extremely promising starlets.

These three youngsters, in particular, will be banging on that door, primed for a first-team chance...

Princewill Ehibhatiomhan

Eckert has experienced some striker problems as of late.

Indeed, Cyle Larin has been in and out of the first team recently with recurring injury concerns, and while Lewis Dobbin is now off the mark for the Saints, having scored against West Ham United, he shouldn't be depended on as the main striker, if the Canadian is regularly in the treatment room.

There is also Divin Mubama, but he has just one Championship goal next to his name, as well.

This is where an U21 addition could come in handy, with Princewill Ehibhatiomhan potentially ready for some more first-team opportunities.

The young attacker is now up to a staggering 15 goals for the season playing under Lallana, so it's clear that the 21-year-old has somewhat outgrown his Premier League 2 surroundings.

The next natural step for him is to gain some senior minutes, as he waits in the background to answer Eckert's first-team call.

An honourable mention here for Baylee Dipepa, who is another very exciting striker talent, having scored 15 U21 goals, himself, in total.

Unfortunately, he has been ravaged by injuries of late, but he is another to keep a close eye on.

Sufianu Sillah Dibaga

Alongside the one-time Swindon Town loanee needing more of a challenge, it could be argued that Sufianu Sillah Dibaga has become too comfortable with his own U21 environment.

Starting with the U18s, he boasted 11 goals and 11 assists from 39 appearances.

Now, in the U21 fold, he has eight goals and six assists to shout about from 28 outings, with five of those goal contributions falling into his lap this season in Premier League 2 action, from only four clashes.

He has one senior appearance next to his name already, and surely that number will go up and up in time.

Eckert might even decide he's one of the lucky few in the youth set-up who deserves a first-team shot, as Dibaga shines down the left wing, which isn't full to the brim with amazing options currently in the senior set-up, away from clear first-team option, Leo Scienza.

The teenage sensation can also play down the right, meaning he could give Kuryu Matsuki some interesting competition, if he were to receive a few first-team chances here and there.

Harry Gathercole

Lastly, Harry Gathercole will fancy his chances of a first-team opening at some point down the line.

At only 18, Gathercole is already setting the Premier League 2 alight, with two assists registered from only 360 minutes of action this season.

Like Dibaga, the raw attacking midfielder can play all over the pitch, with his spells in the U18 and U21 teams to date seeing him play as a left winger, right winger, a number ten, and as a centre forward.

This versatility will catch Eckert's eye, as he could be a wildcard option to chuck into the first-team, with Gathercole sticking out as a wide-eyed starlet ready to leave his mark.

Having been in and around the Saints youth set-up since playing for the U9s, it will be an extremely special day for Gathercole when he does make his men's debut.

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