The wider footballing community saw a Southampton star born in the early kick-off against Manchester United live on TNT Sports on Saturday with Tyler Dibling excelling on his full Premier League debut.
Even though Southampton fell to the Red Devils 3-0, things might have turned out much differently if Cameron Archer had scored a penalty in the 33rd minute to make the score 0-0.
As it was, Matthijs De Ligt gave United the lead against the run of play with a header, and Marcus Rashford doubled the lead shortly after, causing Russell Martin to lose heart in his team.
Martin had some good news as his team dominated the first thirty minutes, but Alejandro Garnacho added a third goal at the end after Southampton captain Jack Stephens was sent out for a late challenge on the United winger.
One of those highlights was the performance of 18-year-old Tyler Dibling, who made his debut Premier League start and left everyone watching the game wondering what all the excitement was about.
Rio Ferdinand compares Southampton ace Tyler Dibling to Marcus Rashford
Dibling had come off the bench in each of Southampton’s first three league games of the season, as well as providing a pair of assists as he started for the Saints in their 5-3 over Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup.
Martin decided that United was the right time to unleash the exciting youngster and it proved an inspired decision as he ran Diogo Dalot ragged from a right wing position before the Portuguese full-back brought him down for the penalty.
Rio Ferdinand was certainly left impressed by the Southampton academy gem, comparing his emergence to that of United goalscorer Rashford on his Rio Ferdinand presents YouTube channel.
Ferdinand said: “He (Marcus Rashford) came in and blew everyone’s socks off.
“He came in, and you think, wow. That’s the type of introduction you want to football, come in and make everyone know and go, listen, whoa, who is this kid? And he had that, Marcus.
“Dibling has not had as big an exposure because he is not at the same type of club, but I think when anyone comes through, the environment you are in is so important, what that can determine for your career is so telling.”
Ferdinand went on to add that he hopes Dibling is given everything he needs to be successful, saying: “That’s why I look at Dibling now, and I just hope that – I am presuming he has at Southampton – got an environment that actually embraces him, brings him in but will keep him level-headed.
“Will also, that environment, be having channels of communications with his family to make sure that they are very aware of his progress and his pathway now.”
Russell Martin must save Dibling for huge Southampton clash vs Ipswich Town
Whilst the last round of the Carabao Cup gave Dibling an opportunity to show he can make an impact when starting games, Tuesday’s tie at Everton should be seen as an opportunity to rest the youngster.
At 18, Martin should be looking to manage Dibling’s workload as much as possible and his performance against United has shown already that he could well be key moving forward.
The Saints are yet to register a point in the Premier League and the home game against Ipswich Town on Saturday is in many ways an early relegation six-pointer.
Therefore, Martin should take no risks with Dibling against Everton in the Carabao Cup game against Everton on Tuesday night and should instead allow other players an opportunity to stake claims of their own.
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