It was like The Journey on FIFA!’ – Southampton wonderkid Tyler Dibling explains ‘surreal’ Marcus Rashford moment

After barely playing for Southampton’s first-team last season in the Championship, the 18-year-old has become a regular for Russell Martin’s men in the Premier League. The winger came up against United in September and said sharing a pitch with Rashford felt like he was playing The Journey on FIFA – an old mode of the game that allowed players to guide a rising star through his career.

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  WHAT TYLER DIBLING SAID

  He told Saints’ website: “Because I only played limited minutes for the club last year, I didn’t think I was going to go on and start a lot of games for the club. I was very nervous before it. It was against Manchester United as well. I felt like I was in The Journey on FIFA. It was weird. I had Rashford next to me. I’ve used him on FIFA for about five years. It was a bit surreal. After that game, you just get used to it to be fair. I was so nervous before – I don’t usually get that nervous – but once you step on the pitch and I made that first pass, I settled. I took on [Diogo] Dalot and won a penalty, unfortunately, Cam [Archer] missed it but it’s still a good moment. Sam Amo-Ameyaw said to me: ‘If you do well, you could stay in the team’. This is why I’m in the team, to take people on. I can’t shy away and pass backwards. I need to be positive and sometimes it works.”

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Dibling, who had an ill-fated and short spell in Chelsea’s youth setup, has been one of the few positives for Southampton this season – who are languishing in the relegation zone. The 18-year-old has scored one goal and bagged two assists and may be key to their survival chances.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Southampton face a huge clash with fellow newly-promoted Leicester City at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon. Saints sit 19th with one point from seven games whereas the Foxes are four places higher and five points better off.