Leo Scienza’s arrival at Southampton won’t stand in the way of academy star Will Still is ‘pushing’

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Southampton may have splashed the cash to bring in left winger Leo Scienza this summer, but it doesn’t have to spell the end of one Saints academy star’s run in the first-team.

The Saints have made a shaky start to the Championship campaign under Will Still, which is probably why they went all out over the last week to sign the likes of Finn Azaz, Scienza, and Tom Fellows.

Adding impressive talent like that is bound to help Southampton’s cause, and in many ways they are one of the big winners of the transfer window.

It came at a cost, though. Southampton were the biggest spenders in the Championship in the end with a £47m outlay. It’s interesting, then, that one of their brightest talents is actually an academy product.

• READ MORE: Why Southampton’s £12m Finn Azaz signing will prove to be a bargain amid promotion push

Jay Robinson can have a big impact at Southampton this season

18-year-old Jay Robinson has made a tremendous start to the season for Southampton, starting all four matches and scoring a crucial goal against Ipswich Town.

Just like Tyler Dibling before him, Robinson is another glowing example of the great work done by the Southampton academy, and there’s no doubt that he will end up being sold for tens of millions of pounds in a few years’ time.

Robinson is brilliant with the ball at his feet, loves to take on his man, can play a killer pass, and makes defenders’ lives a misery. He’s a top asset for Southampton, and while new signing Leo Scienza is likely to command a starting spot in the team, Robinson could and should still get his fair share of minutes.

Obviously, Scienza will need time to get settled in at St. Mary’s. The international break will help with that, but we’d be very surprised if Still drops Robinson immediately. Based on what the youngster has done already in a Southampton shirt, it may be Scienza who finds it more difficult to get into the team.

• READ MORE: James Bree’s Southampton exit offers big hint on Charlton Athletic’s January business 

What Will Still said about Jay Robinson speaks volumes

We know Will Still is a big fan of Robinson already. After the young winger’s goal against Ipswich, the Southampton manager was full of praise for the teenager, while also suggesting there is much, much more to come.

Speaking to the club’s website, Still said: “It’s brilliant. He could’ve probably scored a few more – he needs to believe in himself a bit more. We can keep pushing him, he can be the player that he wants to be, but his performance on the whole and his goal was really positive, so fair play to him.

“It’s massive. Scoring your first professional goal and scoring it in a big game like this is important. He’s growing, he’s evolving, he’s learning and he’s being really positive about it all, so it’s definitely a good thing.”

Only time will tell if the new Southampton signings can make their mark, or if it will be the local lad with a point to prove who ends up leading them to promotion glory this year.