Tino Livramento

#PLStories- Tino Livramento soaking up ‘dream’ life as Premier League footballer #SAINTSFC

SAINTS are gearing up for a tough week on the road with two away trips in the space of four days, but for Premier League newcomer Tino Livramento, the novelty has certainly not worn off yet. Having established himself as such a key part of the furniture at Saints so quickly since arriving from Chelsea over the summer, it can be easy to forget how different life was for the teenager a matter of months ago. Since being handed a shock start on the opening day of the season at Everton, Livramento has gone from a promising academy talent with no first team experience, to ticking off new grounds to play at every other week, featuring in 26 of Saints' 32 top-flight matches so far. The likes of Burnley and Brighton have become routine destinations for Saints over the past five years. But for Livramento, Premier League trips to Turf Moor and the Amex Stadium represent new experiences, a feeling he has quickly had to become very used to. Asked if he still gets excitement from travelling around the country and playing at new grounds, or if he has to block all that out and focus on the game, the 19-year-old told the Daily Echo: "It’s an experience. I’ve just got to soak it up and enjoy it. "I knew this maybe would happen at some point in my career, but I didn’t know it would be this early. "I’m just enjoying it and going to every Premier League ground has been a dream come true." Asked how he'd reflect on his first full season as a Premier League player and what the biggest challenge had been, Livramento said: "Definitely being able to play 90 minutes and then having to recover well and then play 90 minutes. "Whether it be two days or if it comes to the next weekend game. "Obviously mentally it’s been a challenge as well. "I feel like for me it’s just recognising that it’s still my first season in the game and I’m just taking almost every game as an experience and just enjoying it every single time." Saints ended a run of six games without a win by producing a dogged display to beat Arsenal 1-0 on Saturday. And while Livramento only featured during the closing stages of that contest as a substitute, he says the win has given everybody around the club a big boost. "Definitely. Obviously we’d had a tough run of results and it was good to show we can be defensively sound and we took our opportunity when we got it," he said. "We’ve got two big away games (this week). We’ll feel like we can get positive results and push on towards the end of the season now." The challenge of visiting Burnley tomorrow night (7.45pm) is made more intriguing by the departure of Sean Dyche as boss last week, after nine-and-a-half years in charge. Caretaker boss Mike Jackson is set to take charge against Saints. Asked if he was surprised to hear the news of Dyche's exit last week, Livramento said: "Yeah. For me personally, looking at Burnley for so long and the job Sean Dyche did, which was amazing, I didn’t really expect it. "But it’s football. You’ve got to be professional and you’ve got to just get on with the job you have. "We’ll be prepared for whatever happens."
Tino Livramento

#PLStories- Tino Livramento tries to force Gareth Southgate’s hand with Stellar performances #SAINTSFC

TINO Livramento admitted “there’s plenty of things I need to work on” but targets a good run of games with England’s under-21s to force Gareth Southgate to take notice. The Saints youngster insisted that playing with the Young Lions is “the main thing” for him now, after impressing in EURO qualifying for Lee Carsley’s side last week. Livramento, 19, made his fourth cap for the highest level of England’s youth setup in the 4-1 win over Andorra on Friday, providing two strong assists for Folarin Balogun and Anthony Gordon’s goals. A number of the under-21’s previous stars have received the call from senior manager Southgate, including the likes of Conor Gallagher and captain Marc Guehi – who both excel for Crystal Palace in the Premier League, and started at Wembley on Saturday. Young Lions captain Marc Guehi was promoted to the senior squad last week (Pic: PA) Livramento himself has made 23 league appearances in his debut senior season, for Saints, and good performances could have propelled him into consideration. However, England are currently blessed with full-backs and Livramento likely finds himself behind some of the country’s best talent – including teammate Kyle Walker-Peters, who marked his Three Lions debut with a win over Switzerland “There’s plenty of things that I need to work on,” Livramento admitted, when asked how he views the competition ahead of him. “If I have a really good run of games, hopefully the gaffer (Gareth Southgate) will have a look at me and think he wants to give me a chance.” England manager Gareth Southgate (Pic: PA) He continued: “I’m always going to give my all 100 per cent going forward, trying to get assists, or defensively being solid, winning my headers, staying focused all the time. “In the first camp we had a few boys who are now with the seniors. But I feel like when the time’s due, the time’s due. I’m not going to rush anything. “As long as I’m getting called up to the Under-21s, that’s the main thing for me right now. Tino Livramento has been called up to four successive England under-21 squads, but missed November's through injury (Pic: PA) “To be at an international level where I’m playing with all these different players and gaining experience at this level, that’s a major thing for me.” At under-21 level, Livramento is playing with, testing himself against and learning from some of England's biggest prodigies. Alongside him in the starting XI on Friday were Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey and exciting PSV starlet Noni Madueke. Winger Noni Madueke, 20, has garnered a cult following through his potential (Pic: PA) Among the bench included Gordon, who has been Everton’s shining light in a disastrous season, Manchester United loanee James Garner and previously Saints-linked Djed Spence. “When you’re playing with these type of players all you have to do is put it in certain areas and you know they’re going to be there,” the 19-year-old added. “For the first goal, there was a good bit of link-up on the side with me, Morgan (Gibbs-White) and Harvey. For the second one, I just fed it into the area where I thought the winger was going to be and it was a great finish.” Harvey Elliott, 18, made his England under-21 debut on Friday (Pic: PA) Livramento continued: “It’s been good. We have the boys who are younger coming through, the 2002s, and obviously Levi (Colwill) and Harvey who are 2003s. “I feel like a lot of boys have been in the set-up from early ages so we understand the identity of what it’s like to play with England. “I think the main thing is when everyone is getting on the ball and enjoying themselves, then we’re going to see a complete team performance. We know our levels and we know we can achieve so much more.”
Tino Lavramento

#PLStories – #TinoLavramento joins Saints and reveals reason for joining them #SaintsFC

NEW Saints acquisition Tino Lavramento tells how he had transfer options but insists “to choose Southampton was sort of a no-brainer.” The 18-year-old dynamic defender departs Chelsea with a big reputation in search of first team football, joining south-coast Saints on a five-year contract. He featured heavily in Premier League 2 last season for the Blues’ under-23s, contributing goals and assists up the other end, and follows in the footsteps of Dynel Simeu who joined the club from Cobham in July. Speaking to the club website, number 21 Lavramento said: “I've been discussing with my dad about what we thought was best for my future. We felt like this was the right time for it to happen and for me to move on. “To have interest from a few top clubs, to choose Southampton was sort of a no-brainer. They are a solid Premier League club and the manager was quite a big factor as to why I wanted to come here and why I wanted to play for Southampton.” Reports suggested he was linked to the likes of Red Bull Leipzig, AC Milan and Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. He’s yet to make a senior appearance in his young career but did impress enough to make the bench in the league back in May, when Chelsea played Manchester City and Arsenal.