SAINTS starlet Tyler Dibling is being dubbed by some supporters as the best thing to come out of the famed academy since Luke Shaw.
The 18 year old is a way off winning 34 caps for England and playing in two major international finals - he has one Premier League start to his name.
But that first Premier League start was a perfect storm for Dibling, declared ready for his moment by those within the club, to emerge on the national stage.
Facing Manchester United in front of the TV cameras in the first match after the international break, Dibling took six minutes to announce himself.
What a boy… feels like watching Luke Shaw break through all over again 😇#SaintsFC https://t.co/jqLfjyM40o pic.twitter.com/s65B6xDRDV
— JustSaints (@JustSaints_) September 14, 2024
Red Devils goalkeeper Andre Onana produced a fine save to deny the teenager a goal after he had comfortably won the first battle of his war with Diogo Dalot.
Dalot, who has been backed as a defender by Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo, felled Dibling in the box for a Saints penalty in the 31st minute.
Dibling was the most fouled player on the pitch, cut down four times as the FA Cup winners failed to get a grip on the breakout star.
His action should have seen Saints take a deserved lead but for Cameron Archer's missed spot-kick. And what happened next was not his fault.
There was a smattering of boos around the stadium when Dibling came off just over an hour in - manager Russell Martin did not want to withdraw him.
Dibling was suffering from cramp and could not continue, his body yet to adjust to the extraordinary demands of Premier League football.
All summer, Martin has wrestled with his belief that Dibling is ready to be unleashed while understanding he needs to be protected.
It was already decided that Dibling would be a part of the senior squad this season, and not head out on loan, by the time they returned from Girona.
Saints have already been shown the evidence of what over-exertion can do at his age. Tino Livramento and Romeo Lavia lost a year of their career to injury.
The other side is the level of expectation, insisting Dibling hopping on social media to see "thousands of fans telling him how good he is" will not help.
"I just don't want to put too much pressure on him too early, but he's going to be a really top player if he keeps listening and working how he is," he said.
Dibling has waited patiently. His failed Chelsea move has probably benefitted him in the long run. It took a certain level of humility for him to return.
Speaking to us last season, he admitted: "Southampton could have not taken me back, I had left the club and I wasn't their player anymore.
"They could have said, 'We don't want you anymore'. Luckily, I'm a half-decent player so they didn't do that," Dibling added with a smile.
Not only did he forgo the massive wage increase a move to Cobham awarded, he was dropped to the under-18s at Saints and had to work his way back up.
Yukinari Sugawara, who has played behind Dibling this season, insisted: "He will be one of the best players because of his mentality, everything will be top-level."
Remember Yukinari Sugawara telling us in pre-season how easy it is to play behind young Tyler Dibling.
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) September 14, 2024
Just give him the ball and let him create. Will be a bit more to it today with Marcus Rashford and Diogo Dalot, but such an exciting partnership down the right.#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/Kgq6lHnqm1
In the start he was given, away at a rotated Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup, Dibling played a direct hand in four of the five goals Saints scored.
Still, Dibling had to wait. Martin regretted not starting the youngster at Brentford, though, and decided he would play the next immediately after the defeat.
Now, it is his turn. He is ready. Dibling should be rested for Tuesday's cup trip to Everton and charged up for the crucial visit of Ipswich Town next Saturday.
His load will still have to be managed but he is needed to spark the Saints attack. He should not be playing 90 minutes every week just yet.
He is becoming known as a wide player but his true position has been as a number eight. Simply, the tactical demands on the wing are better suited now.
He tops the Premier League for dribbles, attempting 12.6 per 90 minutes, and is second only to Man City's Jeremy Doku for progressive runs.
He carries the ball a minimum of 10 meters in the opposition half, or 15 meters from one half to another, on average six times a match.
Although he will only get better, Dibling, like any 18 year old making his first steps in the senior game, is not going to play well every week.
He will need the support and patience of the fans - as much or more than fellow academy graduate Will Smallbone has been shown - and the staff.
Martin introduced Sam Amo-Ameyaw at the start of last season but we did not see him again in the league after his difficult start against QPR.
That is not to say it was the wrong move for the team or for Amo-Ameyaw's development, but this time it will be different for Dibling.
Dibling is not undroppable, but must not be phased back out. His first goal will be celebrated rapturously over a decade on from joining the Bath academy.
Then you have the question of securing his long-term future. Dibling signed a new contract in December last year, keeping him at Saints until 2026.
Sources at the time suggested that the deal also includes a further year as an option - so Saints will have good control over his value.
If his progression continues, and he begins to start every week in the Premier League, you would expect another conversation to be not too far away.
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