KAMARI Doyle may have been a new name to some when introduced to supporters as a late substitute at Brighton but few within the club are surprised at his rise. 

The midfield youngster, who turns 18 ahead of the Championship season, has been here since he was seven years old and first trained at the Bath centre of performance.

You might recognise him pictured with captain James Ward-Prowse as a schoolboy and he has a similar proficiency for free-kicks, which he has scored with takes on both feet.

Along with Dom Ballard, he is the academy prospect closest to the first team and after beginning the season injured, his Amex Stadium cameo was reward for his progression. 

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Now Saints are in the Championship, it could open the door for the likes of Doyle and Ballard to stake a claim for a permanent berth in the squad. Doyle, however, knows it is not that simple.

Daily Echo: Kamari Doyle and Dom Ballard made their Premier League debuts togetherKamari Doyle and Dom Ballard made their Premier League debuts together (Image: Matt Watson / SFC)

“It’s a really hard league and challenging in a different way,” he told the Daily Echo. “It’s just about individually focusing on what I can do. Hopefully, the opportunities will come if I keep impressing.

“Obviously the main aim is to get with the first team. Hopefully, that’s something I can do and some of the other boys as well.

“I just have to focus on my own performances and hopefully that will come. I’m focusing on myself, trying to get better.”

He added: “Definitely I still need to improve physically, I’m still growing as I’m quite young. And I want to add more goals and assists to my game. There’s always room for improvement.

“Making sure I come sharp in the box and can be clinical next season. Hopefully, I’ll be with the first team for pre-season but we will see.”

Doyle is one of a number of B team and under-18 prospects who have spent time training with the seniors under Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones and Ruben Selles this season.

He can operate practically anywhere but the defensive third, with roles varying from the six and eight to wide midfield and playing just off the nine.

Doyle, having just turned 16, emerged onto the under-18 scene when he netted five goals in a 7-2 win over Birmingham City – having practiced free-kicks with Ward-Prowse. 

He added: “When we go up to the first team we try to bring the energy to the sessions, we try and drive them as much as we can.

“Obviously, it’s been tough for them this season but we have done as much as possible. Whenever we’re up there we try and impress and we enjoy the challenge.”

Doyle has never been short of confidence but his personality has grown not only on the pitch but around the training ground and, notably, in the squad’s Christmas quiz.

Luke Pearce and Doyle were proud winners when they edged out Ballard and Cam Bragg, although it is unclear if that success played a role in Doyle’s nomination as a B team captain candidate.  

When they lifted the Premier League 2 Division Two trophy at Snows Stadium last month, Doyle and Ballard made sure everybody – including staff – had their moment with the prize.

Daily Echo: Dom Ballard will be with the senior team for pre-season and could stake a claim for a permanent

“It’s been an amazing season, the boys have done so well,” Doyle reflected. “It’s obviously been up and down, we won on the last day and didn’t know we were going to win it!

“We were expecting Leeds to beat them and they didn’t but that probably made it even sweeter. To be with the boys and celebrate like that was amazing.”

The lads learned they were to receive a champions’ medal when watching Leeds United play their final game gathered together in the training ground’s academy canteen.

“We’re all winners, we want to win so much and that shows with back-to-back titles. Some of these boys I’ve known since I was seven so we’ve been friends forever almost,” he added.

“We’ll do anything for each other and that shows on the pitch and in the performances. I love these boys, it’s really special to share the pitch and win with them – it’s something you dream of.”

It has been a challenging year for all of the young players at the top end of the B team, despite winning back-to-back Premier League titles in successive age groups.

Doyle has been integral in Premier League 2, a quarter-final Premier League Cup run and reaching the first FA Youth Cup semi-final since 2006.

Both coaches of Doyle’s under-18 team have moved on either to the first team or out of the club, and the B team’s Dave Horseman and Louis Carey were hijacked midway through the season.

“It’s been tough managing the number of games in different teams and playing with different players, but at the end of the day that’s what you’ve got to do to be a top player,” Doyle insisted.

“You have to be able to play every week, multiple games a week, with different players and while getting used to different environments. We’ve all coped with it well. 

“It was difficult with the amount of change but at any football club there are going to be changes all season, it’s just something you have to deal with – and we have all done that.”