Southampton hand Tyler Dibling scholarship deal after returning to club after quitting Chelsea this month
SOUTHAMPTON have handed a scholarship deal to starlet Tyler Dibling after his return from Chelsea.
Dibling, 16, caught the eye with a near identical hat-trick in a Premier League 2 game against Newcastle last season.
He then left to join Chelsea.
But the attacking midfielder struggled to settle in west London and returned to the Saints earlier this month.
Ralph Hasenhuttl was so impressed with the youngster that he was named in a Premier League squad for a trip to Brentford at the end of last season.
Dibling said: “It’s good to be back at this amazing place and I feel like it’s the right place to be.
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“Long-term I want to be a starter, play Premier League games, help the club out and have a good connection with the fans.”
Southampton have experienced an indifferent start to the season.
Hasenhuttl’s men have won two, drawn one and lost four of their opening seven matches.
Victories over Leicester and Chelsea came either side of a defeat to Manchester United.
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But the last two games have been bitterly disappointing in back-to-back away losses to Wolves and Aston Villa.
They now head into the international break and return on October 1 at home to Everton.
Saints then follow that up with a trip to champions Manchester City.