First-team squad members including Oriol Romeu, Juanmi, Cuco Martina, Steven Caulker and Harrison Reed all took part in the match, as those who are not away on international duty got the opportunity to see some action during the break in the Premier League schedule.

Ronald Koeman watched on as the side produced a ruthless first-half performance in wet and windy conditions against their young Dutch counterparts, scoring all four of their goals before the break.

They were in front in the sixth minute, after Juanmi was judged to have been fouled right on the edge of the area, having displayed some neat footwork to beat Aschraf El Mahdioui.

It appeared as though the tackle had taken place inside the area, but it didn’t matter as Armani Little stepped up to curl a brilliant strike just inside the far post.

Saints then doubled the lead after 15 minutes, as Yann Valery slid a pass down the inside-right for under-21s forward Ryan Seager and he unselfishly squared for Juanmi to slide in and convert.

Four minutes later it was 3-0, as Little delivered a glorious in-swinging cross from the left that eluded a couple of players before finding its way to the back post, where Martina was on hand to head home his first goal in a Saints shirt.

Romeu nearly made it 4-0 after 25 minutes, but his strike towards the top corner from outside the area was saved by Indy Groothuizen in the Ajax goal.

Seager then went close as well, bursting into the area in an attempt to get on the end of left-back Josh Debayo’s sublime first-time cross, but he couldn’t quite reach the ball as he slid in.

Seager linked up well with Debayo again shortly afterwards, before firing a left-foot shot wide from just outside the area, as the hosts pressed on.

The fourth did arrive in the 40th minute, as Little’s free-kick from the right flicked off the head of an Ajax defender and fell to Jake Hesketh on the edge of the area, with the winger striking a superb first-time volley into the bottom corner.

Saints made one change at the break, with under-18s right-back Richard Bakary coming on for Valery, while the impressive Little was withdrawn later on for Dom Gape.

Ajax, who had former Manchester United star Jaap Stam among their coaching staff, were harder to break down after the break, but the hosts remained well in control, with Martina making a good clearance from inside his six-yard box to ward off Ajax’s greatest moment of danger.

Seager nearly got on the end of a Gape cross, after he had been set away down the right by an excellent Bakary pass, while Hesketh had a low strike from 18 yards saved by Groothuizen shortly before the final whistle.

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Paulo Gazzaniga; Yann Valery (Richard Bakary 46), Cuco Martina, Steven Caulker, Josh Debayo; Harrison Reed, Oriol Romeu; Armani Little (Dom Gape 69), Juanmi, Jake Hesketh; Ryan Seager.

Unused substitutes: Harry Lewis, Will Wood, Tyreke Johnson, Stuart Wilkin, Olufela Olomola.

Goals: Little (6), Juanmi (15), Martina (19), Hesketh (40).

Ajax (4-1-4-1): Indy Groothuizen; Leeroy Owusu (Jordy Bruijn 63), Terry Lartye Sanniez, Damian van Bruggen, Mauro Savastano (Damon Mirani 46); Aschraf El Mahdioui; Elton Acolatse, Milan Vissie, Damil Dankerlui, Václav Černy (Robert Murić 46); Zakaria El Azzouzi.