Martin has 'no worries' about Dibling's mentality amid hype

Dibling, born in 2006, scored his career-first senior goal in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town, having impressed against Manchester United last time out.

The Saints academy graduate was the side's best player during pre-season and is now the first attacker on Martin's Premier League teamsheet.

Dibling, contracted at St Mary's to 2026, is likely to generate interest from all of the top clubs in England at the end of his breakout season.

However, Martin, ahead of the clash with AFC Bournemouth, insists he is not concerned about Dibling's ability to remain grounded amid all of the hype.

He said: "He has an incredible belief in himself in a really nice, humble and modest way. He has to just keep living at 100 per cent.

Tyler Dibling celebrates his first Premier League goal (Image: Richard Crease)

"He has to understand where that is and understand what's got him this far. I think he has a brilliant support network with his family.

"He has a lot of trust from us and he has that back. It's not always plain sailing with young players so we need to make him understand that.

"At this minute in time, he couldn't play for every team. He suits the way we play a lot and he's getting so much better at the stuff he needs to improve."

Martin added: "He needs to continue to develop and stay so hungry. I think that's always a challenge with young players when they have a quick rise.

"To keep them humble and to keep them wanting to learn, improve and develop. But with Tyler, I don't see that being a problem.

"He's such a calm and confident boy in the nicest way, so as long as he maintains his sense of self and his character and his personality.

"That's up to us to help him do that along with his family, then I've got no worries about him. If he's playing well and in form, I don't think age comes into it."

Martin insists the influence 36 year old Adam Lallana, who made his Saints debut when Dibling was a few months old, will be key.

"I think it was part of the reason to bring Adam in. It was a big part of that, not just on the pitch but off the pitch," Martin said. 

"He is someone who's aligned in terms of his vision of the game and his values as a person and is really demanding with the young guys on the training pitch.

"He's probably the only guy I know that moans more than me on the training pitch but in a much better way than I was. When he talks, they listen."