Southampton's Martin sets Amo-Ameyaw and Dibling pre-season challenge

The talented teenagers have drawn interest from clubs keen to sign them on loan after a year of training with Southampton's first team.

Saints now view both as full senior players but Martin has urged for patience and is unwilling to put too much pressure on the duo.

Amo-Ameyaw and Dibling were among the top performers in Southampton's 7-1 rout of Eastleigh on Friday evening.

Dibling played a brilliantly weighted through ball to Adam Armstrong for the second goal before teeing up Yukinari Sugawara in the second half.

That through ball from Tyler Dibling was 🤌

Really impressed by him and Sam Amo-Ameyaw last night.

You can clearly see how much they’ve benefitted from training with the senior team all the time. #SaintsFCpic.twitter.com/27L3r9IVOp

— George Rees-Julian (@rees_julian) July 20, 2024

Amo-Ameyaw was also a creative hub down the right. He won a penalty after the break, scored by Sekou Mara, before dancing through defenders to assist Charly Alcaraz.

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Martin wants the 18 year olds to showcase they are worthy of playing a part in the Premier League but did point to their lack of experience.

He told the Daily Echo: "They're with us. They have a chance to stake a claim. We have a lot of interest in both players, people want to take them on loan.

"But they have to prove that they're better off staying here and it's better for them to be here. Yeah, it's up to them. The ball is completely in their court.

Tyler Dibling provided two assists against National League Eastleigh (Image: Stuart Martin)

"They know how I feel about them as players. I'm really demanding of them because we have to make sure that they are on it all the time."

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He continued: "Tyler was amazing but he had one action with the outside of the boot that fries my brain. But he's young and he's brilliant, and knows what I think of him.

"If I didn't think so highly of him, it wouldn't bother me. But sometimes it does. They are so talented, honestly. We have two of the most talented boys I've seen.

"I don't want to put any pressure on them, and I don't want people to expect too much of them. We're going into the hardest league in the world.

"They haven't played men's football really. They have played four or five games each," Martin added. 

"Like I said, we have to be patient. But they are supremely talented, and we have to keep them on and push them in the right way."