Speaking to the Daily Echo, Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has said that he was left with no choice but to place Olufela Olomola on the bench against Sunderland.

The 18-year-old academy product was named on the bench for Southampton’s first-team as they hosted Sunderland a St.Mary’s yesterday. Olomola was unable to get any time off the bench as Southampton drew 1-1.

A red card for Jose Fonte forced Koeman to bring on Maya Yoshida to fill in at centre-back, otherwise, Olomola might have got his chance to impress for a few minutes towards the end of the match.

Koeman has said that injuries to Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long forced him to select Olomola and has labelled him as a ‘young talent’. The striker has been impressing for the under-18s and under-21s this season for Southampton’s youth sides and could be one for the future.

Speaking about his decision to choose Olomola, Koeman said this:

We have injuries with strikers Shane [Long], Charlie [Austin], Jay [Rodriguez] so we have Juanmi and the young boy on the bench.

He’s a young talent showing a good shape in the Under 21s. He can play in the Under 18s but it’s all about who is available.

If you don’t have more you look down to the academy.