Martin impressed by starlet training with senior Southampton squad
Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, a 19-year-old Irish midfielder, has been steadily gaining experience at Southampton since joining the club from Cork City in January. Recently, he traveled with the Saints’ squad to Goodison Park for their Carabao Cup clash against Everton, despite not being named in the matchday squad. The young player took part in warm-ups alongside the substitutes, a move designed to help him acclimate to the demands of first-team football and gain a sense of the top-level atmosphere.
O’Brien-Whitmarsh’s senior debut for Southampton came earlier in the competition during the previous round against Cardiff City. He made a brief appearance in the final minutes of the match, marking his first official outing with the club’s first team. Although his senior experience is still limited, the midfielder has consistently trained with the senior squad and even featured once in a pre-season fixture.
This season, O’Brien-Whitmarsh has also been a standout for Southampton’s under-21 team, scoring twice in the Premier League 2 after the club decided against sending him out on loan. Manager Russell Martin explained that there were loan opportunities for O’Brien-Whitmarsh, but the decision was made to keep him at the club to aid his development, particularly after an injury setback last season. Martin expressed his belief in the young midfielder’s potential, highlighting his impressive performances and commitment during training.
“There is a lot of really promising players in the academy,” Martin noted. “We happened to choose Joe for the Everton trip because we weren’t sure about the fitness of one of our players. Unfortunately, he wasn’t involved, but it was important for him to be around the team.”
Martin emphasized that the decision to keep O’Brien-Whitmarsh at the club was made with his development in mind, allowing him to continue training with the first team while maintaining his role as a key player for the under-21s. The club has a clear pathway for his progression, ensuring that he is prepared for future first-team opportunities.
O’Brien-Whitmarsh, who previously made 27 senior appearances for Cork City, scoring four goals and providing one assist, continues to build on his early promise. An Irish youth international, he is regarded as one of the academy’s brightest talents, with significant potential for growth in the coming years.
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