Saints manager Harry Redknapp handed debuts to Nathan Dyer and Matthew Mills whilst also bringing Dexter Blackstock and Martin Cranie into the side.

Theo Walcott, who recently became Southampton's youngest ever player, was a fifth young England star named in the Southampton squad.

Blackstock (left) and Dyer both scored whilst Cranie and Mills kept it tight at the back as the Championship side beat the Shrimpers at Roots Hall.

For Blackstock, who has scored three goals in eleven appearances for England, the rapid development of the youngsters at St. Mary's is indicative of the hard work put in at Academy level.

"In our youth team days we were winning every game, when we played in the reserves we were winning a lot of games so the mentality is there to go out and not be beaten," the striker told saintsfc.co.uk.

"We all know each others games - Martin Cranie (left) did well again today so it is good for the youngsters coming through. We had Theo Walcott who didn't manage to get on but he has obviously made an impact.

"Nathan Dyer did well. He has bags of pace and is a real handful and I was delighted to see him get on the scoresheet."

Southampton's youth side won the FA Premier Academy League and reached The FA Youth Cup Final last season and the club currently boast eight England youth internationals.

That figure might well have been nine had it not been for Leon Best, who was in the U20s squad to face Russia earlier this month, breaking his foot whilst playing on-loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

"We have got a lot more young talent here," Blackstock continued. "Leon Best has unfortunately broken a foot but when he gets fit I am sure he will be there or thereabouts. We have got Simon Gillett and Andrew Surman who is out on loan so the signs are good."

Centre-back Cranie was the captain of Martin Hunter's England U19s side that reached the European Championship final, a side which also featured Blackstock and Matthew Mills (left).

Meanwhile Matthew's brother Joseph was on England duty this summer as the U17s reached the final of the annual Nordic Tournament.

It was a dream debut for flying winger Dyer, who was one of the most impressive players in Saints' route to that FA Youth Cup Final.

He made his England debut for the U18s against Norway in June and was recently called up to the U19s squad to play Belgium next moth.

"I never dreamed my debut could go this well," Dyer said. "Everything fell into place and I am just relieved that I did not let anyone down. I was very excited when I found out I was starting.

"My aim this season was just to play reserve football quite often because last season I had a few shouts. I was not expecting this to happen so soon - I was involved a couple of times in the league matches [and] I got on the bench at Sheffield Wednesday but nothing came of it.

"I've just got to keep my head down and keep working hard, don't get ahead of myself and basically keep working hard on the training ground and listening to the older players and hopefully they are helping me progress into an even better player."

England Youth Players at Southampton

Dexter Blackstock
U19s: 11 caps, 3 goals

Martin Cranie
U17s: 7 caps, 1 goal
U18s: 2 caps, 0 goals
U19s: 12 caps, 0 goals

Nathan Dyer
U18s: 1 cap, 0 goals

Joseph Mills
U17s: 4 caps, 1 goal

Matthew Mills
U18s: 2 caps, 0 goals
U19s: 8 caps, 1 goal

Sean Rudd
U18s: 1 cap, 0 goals

Jake Thompson
U16s: 7 caps, 3 goals
U17s: 4 caps, 1 goal

Theo Walcott
U16s: 4 caps, 0 goals
U17s: 11 caps, 5 goals

26 March 2005  
Goal v. Serbia & Montenegro

30 March 2005  
Goal v. Republic of Ireland