SAINTS youngster Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh is targeting a first team role at St Mary's next season but knows he is in no rush to force his way in.
The 19 year old signed from Cork City in January 2024 having already played regular men's football in Ireland's top division.
O'Brien-Whitmarsh is now on loan at League Two Accrington Stanley, who look set to beat the drop to the National League this season.
After arriving on deadline day in February, he is looking to make his first start having been a half-time substitute in back-to-back games.
He spent pre-season with Russell Martin's squad and made his senior Saints debut as a late substitute in the Carabao Cup at Cardiff City.
"That was brilliant, I had my dad, my aunt and my brother was all in the stands. It was a good moment, one I'll definitely remember," he said.
"Since I've joined the football that Southampton played, I've loved playing it really, and I think they've got some good principles.
"They try to push players into the first team. You see with Tyler Dibling at the moment. There's definitely a pathway there, I've just got to bide my time.
"Going out on loan was always the plan because when I came back in the summer, I'd just come back from an injury the previous season.
"I think I still wanted to just get more games under my belt and show the people in the building what I was capable of first.
"And then to come out on loan, in the short term, I'm focused on here. I want to help the club here, staying up and push up the league.
"Long term, I want to push into that Southampton team. The loan system is good to get minutes. But of course, you want to play for your parent club.
"I think I will go back in the summer, I definitely want to try and have as good a preseason, come back in good nick and see where that takes me.
"If it needs to be another loan, then so be it, but it's definitely the first choice to try and get into the first team."
