As they secured a more than welcome 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon, Southampton gave a Premier League debut to a young Irish striker.
Michael Obafemi, yet another young player coming through at Southampton, became the Saints' second-youngest Premier League debutante after Luke Shaw.
At 17 years & 199 days, Michael Obafemi becomes @SouthamptonFC’s 2nd youngest player to appear in the @premierleague, after Luke Shaw pic.twitter.com/tqKvB1M5Sv
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 21, 2018
An underage Irish international, Obafemi has entered our consciousness previously; his hat-trick for Southampton in the FA Youth demonstrated a glimmer of his ability.
A player of whom Southampton expect a lot of, his first feature on the bench today prompted the club to give fans a glimpse of what the young striker can do.
Congratulations to 17-year-old #SaintsFC forward Michael Obafemi, who makes the bench today!
Take a look at some of his goals so far this season: pic.twitter.com/IbIbf8pyUM— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 21, 2018
Not that the club who initially developed him were keen to overlook this moment either.
Congratulations to former O’s-academy player Michael Obafemi as he makes his Premier League debut for Southampton! #LOFC #OnlyOneOrient https://t.co/m6HNt8RlXS
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) January 21, 2018
A source of great concern for Irish fans, the presence of a young, promising young striker playing Premier League football would almost be too good to be true.
His appearance prompted many eager viewers to wonder what may be for a young man who looks in possession of a skills set the Irish national side desperately lacks. Beyond these national interests, there was plenty of support for the 17-year old Obafemi.
An Irish teenage striker, Michael Obafemi, playing in the Premier League. Sounds almost too good to be true.
— Neil O'Riordan (@noriordan) January 21, 2018
17 year old Irish striker Michael Obafemi has just come off the bench for Southampton. Hope he hasn’t made plans for the summer of 2020.
— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) January 21, 2018
Always great to see managers giving academy players a chance - especially in a big game. Congrats to young Michael Obafemi on his debut.
— Michael Beale (@MichaelBeale) January 21, 2018
Unfortunate not to secure an unlikely winner for Southampton, Mauricio Pellegrino, a manager under no small amount of pressure could have done with the young striker paying him back in very quick style for his support.
Yet, there is hardly any need to worry yet. Although there is some way to go before Obafemi may look to become an Irish international, it is an exciting prospect certainly if he keeps developing along these lines.
Speaking in the wake of today's debut to Southampton's in-house media, Obafemi is determined that this the beginning of what he intends to make a successful career at the top level.
"I've dreamed of it since I was a kid!"
Hear from 17-year-old Michael Obafemi after he made his #SaintsFC debut in the draw with #THFC: pic.twitter.com/yD1upVuApD
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 21, 2018
