This week, Southampton’s youngsters are negotiating two cup ties in the space of four days, as attention turns to Saturday’s Premier League Cup meeting with Stoke City.
The tie will be hosted at Staplewood, before Saints then face further group stage games against Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth in the coming months, which will both be played at AFC Totton’s Snows Stadium.
Radhi Jaïdi’s young side narrowly lost out to Walsall in the week - by virtue of a single goal - but can take confidence from a valiant performance, after matching senior opposition for the majority of the 90 minutes.
“The Premier League Cup is a competition that our boys really enjoy," Jaïdi explained.
“It’s a quick turnaround again but we’ll go back to Staplewood and prepare right.
“We’re playing an academy team, who we’re more than capable of matching and we will be able impose ourselves on.
“It’s a lot of football in a short space of time but that’s what we’re here for, to keep growing with every experience.”
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