Dibling on his future, impressing Martin and increased expectations

The 18 year old knows his long-term future is secure, having signed a second professional contract to keep him at St Mary's until at least 2026.

He is focused on forcing his way into manager Russell Martin's plans and has made a good go of it in Southampton's opening two friendlies.

The last two years had seen Dibling go viral for a near-identical hattrick at St James' Park and be named on a Premier League bench at just 16 years old.

He departed for Chelsea before returning weeks later and was forced to work back up from the under-18s - and he is closer now to breaking through than ever.

"It's good to be with the first team full-time because last year when we played the Benfica game, I went back with the under-21s," he told the Daily Echo.

Tyler Dibling could get a chance against tougher opposition in Montpellier on Saturday (Image: Stuart Martin)

"You don't know if you're an under-21 or first-team player, and when you know that you're with one team, it's easy to settle in and play how you play.

"It's good to see that Russ has even more trust in us than last season to say we're senior players. He's treating us like senior players now and being a bit harder.

"The expectations have gone up too. He's hounding me and Sam (Amo-Ameyaw) together and it's only to make us better players - and it's helping.

"Because Sam and I have played together for so long now, I know exactly what he's going to do. It's just easy to play when he dribbles and scores like that.

"Sam and I are really enjoying it. When Sam makes that run, it opens up the middle for me. When I just play it across, someone's got to be there to attack it."

Their performances in the 7-1 win over Eastleigh and 3-2 win against Bordeaux are giving Martin plenty to think about - and supporters plenty of excitement.

Dibling played only a handful of minutes in the Championship last season - as a late substitute against Sheffield Wednesday - and was limited to cup outings.

Tyler Dibling made two senior starts in the FA Cup last season

His dominance over the under-21s division only grew and Martin now recognises the Bath development centre talent solely as a senior player.

It means the boss has a decision to make on what he does this season, with plenty of clubs in England interested in taking Dibling on loan.

"It's good to be around the Premier League and to get a feel for it. Even if we don't play many minutes, just being around," Dibling said. 

"If I'm on the bench like I was last season, it's just good to feel around it and then maybe in January, I'll just go out in January.

"If a good offer comes in now, maybe you can't say no to it. I think it's better to be around the Premier League squad because we haven't done it before.

"You can put your input, but it's up to the club. I don't know what they want but whatever they want, I will do - so it's pretty easy for me."

Saints staff have pushed Dibling - and Amo-Ameyaw - on their work against the ball and positional understanding of the tactical demands.

Tyler Dibling warming up with the squad. Getting some interesting experience.#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/SpGwxqerVb

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 17, 2024

Martin commented, while praising the rest of his performance at Eastleigh, that one needlessly attempted outside of the boot pass "fried his brain".

Dibling's appearances for Martin last season chiefly saw him operate on the right of midfield, with more intense demands put on those in the centre.

So far this summer, with Amo-Ameyaw and Dibling playing together, he has operated in the midfield eight he made his own at academy level.

Dibling explained: "I can play both, but obviously, Sam's better at playing on the wing and I prefer playing as a central midfielder.

"They've always seen me as a midfielder but last season it was easier to get minutes when I played right.

"Russell and the club see me as that eight or 10 which it's better. I prefer it because when I was younger, I'd always been a midfielder."

Dibling and Amo-Ameyaw are not the only academy starlets out in Spain with the team, as Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh, Nat Boot and Jay Robinson all feature.

Tyler Dibling was Southampton's academy player of 2023/24 (Image: Southampton FC)

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Josh McNamara is training with the team too but is unlikely to get any minutes as a fourth-choice shot-stopper.

Attacking midfielder O'Brien-Whitmarsh joined last season from Cork City, while England youth international centre-back Boot spent last season injured.

Robinson, the youngest of the bunch at 17 years old, is highly rated by academy director Andy Goldie and signed his first contract last week. 

"Will Merry was with us at Eastleigh too," Dibling recalled, not wanting to leave any of his teammates out of our discussion. 

"Nat's so good but no one's seen him before. We all know how good he is. If he plays regularly then he can push up to the first team.

"And then, obviously, Whitmarsh. He's come in recently. He was still with the under-21s last year and Robbo's so good on the left wing.

"We've been doing double sessions every week ever since we've been back, it's obviously hard work, but we're used to it," Dibling continued. 

"We train so hard. In the afternoons, it's just relentless. It's making me better and making us all fit for pre-season."