What Southampton youngsters could be squad against Chelsea?

At 18 years old, the attacking midfielder has regularly been among Russell Martin's top performers and featured in every league match.

Saints will be without Dibling through suspension when they take on Chelsea on Wednesday as Martin deals with a mounting squad crisis.

The boss could be without as many as 13 senior players through bans, injuries and ineligibility to face Championship-winning ex-Leicester boss Enzo Maresca.

READ MORE: Every player unavailable to face Chelsea and how Saints could line up

But Martin's lack of options could bring about an opportunity for the next Saints products off the block. What youngsters could make the squad? 

Adli Mohamed 

UAE international Adli Mohamed, 19, has started six of the last seven Premier League 2 matches this season and is the number one academy goalkeeper.

Dylan Moody, 16, travelled with Saints to act as third goalkeeper at Brighton on Friday but Mohamed was in under-21s action earlier the same day.

While Alex McCarthy is expected to be fit enough to make the squad, if the 34 year old is ruled out by his knee injury then Saints will name a youth goalie.

Mohamed - who signed a professional contract to 2027 this year - is likely to be first in line and already has experience in and around Martin's squad.

Bahraini-born Mohamed regularly trained with the Saints first team last season and was part of the travelling matchday squad on several occasions. 

Adli Mohamed was handed a long-term pro contract (Image: Southampton FC)

Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh

Martin has no shortage of senior defenders so should be able to fill a squad and bench with a starting back-five and some back-up options.

But he might have only two fit senior midfielders and will have to play someone, like Ryan Manning, out of position from the start.

This lack of options means winter signing Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh, 19, should be named in a Premier League squad for the first time. 

The Republic of Ireland youth international was signed from Cork City and has gone from strength to strength in Simon Rusk's academy side. 

He has scored four goals in eight matches from midfield, wears the armband and excelled in men's football in the League of Ireland in 2023. 

O'Brien Whitmarsh was handed his debut as a very late substitute in the Carabao Cup at Cardiff City in August but will be eyeing a Premier League bow.

Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh has impressed academy staff (Image: Southampton FC)

Romeo Akachukwu

Romeo Akachukwu, 18, was another signing from the League of Ireland earlier this year after Saints beat competition from top European clubs.

Akachukwu had made 35 men's appearances for Waterford before making the switch to a professional academy setup with Saints in June.

He can play a variety of roles in midfield and as a wide forward and made his Saints debut as a late substitute in the Carabao Cup win at Cardiff.

Akachukwu scored the opening goal in a 2-1 win over reigning Premier League 2 champions Tottenham Hotspur at Staplewood earlier this season. 

USA youth international Noel Buck, who already has 50 MLS appearances to his name, is another option if Martin prefers a more defensive skillset.

Romeo Akachukwu made his Saints debut in August (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC)

Jay Robinson

Jay Robinson's best performance of the season might have come at the perfect time for him after he scored a brace at Stoke City on Friday.

The 18 year old England youth international is viewed by senior academy staff as one of the highest potential players currently in the system.

This status saw wide forward Robinson rewarded with a long-term contract and enjoy involvement in Martin's senior squad at the start of pre-season.

He was named on the bench at Cardiff and although he did not come on to make his Saints debut, he is an outside shout for involvement this week.

Robinson's selection will likely depend on the availability of Maxwel Cornet and Paul Onuachu as Martin could already have enough attackers to fill his squad. 

Jay Robinson was involved in pre-season matches (Image: Stuart Martin)