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A youthful Southampton side managed to get the better of Eastleigh 3-1 in the Saints' first pre-season runout this off-season.
Saints fans would have loved seeing the likes of brand-new £9m signing Lewis Dobbin in the flesh, alongside Leo Scienza featuring, but it was an evening that saw the next generation coming through at the South Coast giants impress.
Indeed, Nicholas Oyekunle would ensure Tonda Eckert and Co. would take the lead, after an early scare saw Dobbin have to equalise, with the 19-year-old - who has quite the red-hot goalscoring reputation in youth circles at Southampton - desperate for more consistent first team minutes this upcoming Championship campaign.
Alongside Oyekunle, Romeo Akachukwu also stood out, with the promising Irishman making sure the well-earned victory was comfortably won, as he scored the final goal of the eventful friendly contest.
Akachukwu's standout showing would have impressed Eckert watching on, who will want to see even more from the teenage sensation when the Saints play Eintracht Braunschweig and Preussen Munster in his homeland.
Akachukwu will be dreaming of the first team
Donning the number 29 shirt against Eastleigh, Akachukwu's late finish to secure the win was more striker-like, than that of a midfielder's.
Confidently stroking the ball home, after one of his Saints' teammates fumbled their own golden opportunity, the 19-year-old looked delighted to get on the scoresheet, as he celebrated alongside Ryan Manning, a far more senior member of Eckert's camp.
Akachukwu will be dreaming of more first team action coming his way when the bread and butter of Championship action returns, with the Republic of Ireland U21 international ready to burst into life, having now made 50 appearances for the Saints U21s over the years, accumulating a hefty 11 goals and seven assists along the way.
It will be tough for Akachukwu to make significant strides, as the number ten spot - which he excels in - has both Dobbin and Finn Azaz as its main occupants in the first team, who will be key to Eckert and Co. next season trying to win promotion.
But, his versatile edge could come in handy for the long and arduous campaign ahead, as he can play all across the pitch if needed, away from his number ten duties.
Eckert won't be afraid to chuck him in
For the U21s over the years, the Irishman has stuck out as an adaptable presence who can fit into a starting XI wherever he is needed.
Away from playing centrally, Akachukwu has even come into the side as a makeshift centre-forward on occasion, collecting two assists from three games from this peculiar position on the pitch.
Could he be utilised as a surprise striker option in the first team? With a deal for Will Lankshear now looking unlikely, the 19-year-old could prove to be a shock internal fix.
He could also boost the midfield ranks if Shea Charles were to up and leave shortly, as he tries to follow in the footsteps of both Caspar Jander and Cameron Bragg in emerging into the first team as a bright young prospect and then staying there.
Eckert loved using the youth available to him last season when he could, so don't rule out a formative campaign for Akachukwu, with more impressive pre-season outings in Germany to come making him a figure that is hard to ignore when putting together plans for how to tackle the second tier.
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This article was originally published on saintsmarching.com as Tonda Eckert will be impressed by this Southampton youngster’s promising pre-season.
