Striker Connor Wickham says he is happy with the progress he has made since becoming Town’s youngest ever first team player when the Blues faced Saturday’s opponents Doncaster last season. Wickham signed his first professional contract with Town a fortnight ago.

The England U17 international, who was 16 years and 11 days old when he came on as a sub in the 3-1 home defeat to Rovers last April, told the club site: "I can remember the game against them last season and making my debut. I couldn't wait to get on and things have moved on well for me from there.

"I feel I have matured massively as a player. I've got myself into the first team, played a few games this year and I'm happy with the progress I have made.

"It has been funny sometimes when I look around the dressing room and see everyone four or five years older than me.

"I knew my friends were probably going to parties and sometimes I wanted to be with them, but playing football is all I have ever wanted to do. I know you have to be dedicated to be a professional and that's what I intend to be."

Wickham has now scored four goals in seven starts and 21 substitute appearances for the Blues.

Photo: Action Images

superblueflude added 16:33 - Apr 15 4 goals in 7 starts - bloody hell - our 40+ goal scorer for next season!
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PimsNumber1 added 16:45 - Apr 15 Hang on , dont get too excited, he has been on the pitch a further 21 times. Cant believe he has come on that many times but Im sure Phil has his facts right . Anyway a great prospect and i hope to god some nutter doesnt trade him in for a couple of Sunderland rejects one well past his sell by date and the other a plodder.
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superblueflude added 16:47 - Apr 15 I've been a keane inner all season but my god if he swaps Wickham for those two even i will join in with the outers!!!!.
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Wallingford_Boy added 16:51 - Apr 15 21 sub appearances?!?!?! Are you sure Phil?? A goal every 7 games is hardly a prolific strike rate.... maybe we should have cashed in??
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Ipswich24 added 17:00 - Apr 15 What are you on about wallingford boy? seen your comments and you talk utter s***! The boy has just started out and he got as good a record as anyone else giving the right support and coaching he will be an fantastic striker a real striker strong turn of pace and great shot on him. Tell you what wish we could get rid of you on here!
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superblueflude added 17:03 - Apr 15 Would be interesting to see what times he came on during those sub appearences, if he has say 10 minutes how many chances would he actually get?
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MVBlue added 17:05 - Apr 15 I rate this guy. His finishing isn't his main strength but he does score well. He's a big striker, they are expensive in football and Ipswich over the years haven't had his type, fast big and controlled. He is our Scowcroft to the needed Stewart. Big man, little man, its a proven strike partnership in football. Beardsley/Shearer, Del Piero/Toni, Kevin Philips/Niall Quinn. So we have one piece of a future 50 season goal partnership.... I'll put £10 on it...

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TrumptonBlue added 17:14 - Apr 15 "Would be interesting to see what times he came on during those sub appearences" In the league this season, he's played a total of 930 minutes for his 2 goals (his other 2 were at Shrewsbury in the Mickey Mouse Cup). 465 minutes per goal is not impressive (a certain John Stead has the best record here at 182.67 minutes per goal), but, as suggested, I guess it's harder to get into games if you're only coming on for the last 20 minutes or so.

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Wallingford_Boy added 17:18 - Apr 15 Ipswich24 - whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh Duh!
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tom_the_blue added 17:21 - Apr 15 Wayne Rooney scored 6 goals in 14 games and 19 sub appearances in his first season, including 2 goals against Wrexham in the cup. He turned 17 in October, so was slightly older than Connor. Very similar records, and if Wickham goes on to achieve half of what Rooney has I'm sure we'll all be very happy.
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Mark added 17:30 - Apr 15 Don't worry about Wickham's poor goal record at first team level, as he scored lots at lower levels, he has the attributes to be a top player (especially physical presence - how many of our youngsters have been weak and got knocked off the ball so easily - Bowditch, Clark etc.), and he has only just turned 17 let's remember! Lee Martin is still considered a youngster, and he is SIX years older than Connor Wickham. I look forward to Wickham's development next season (I thought that about Rhodes last season!) and he will play matches, but we should not rely on him yet. That leaves Counago as our only other striker who Keane has any faith in however, so we must look to buy two or even three new strikers in the summer. As has been said before I would look at League One's hot shots, at Cardiff's strikers and overseas (I am not sure our scouting network is up to it however).

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jas0999 added 18:04 - Apr 15 Great prospect. I see many have failed to give Roy credit for bedding him slowly in the team. Of course this sort of good news will be forgotten by the negative boys who flatly refuse to say anything positive. Well done ITFC for signing this lad up. Well done Roy for doing exactly the right thing for Wickham. The boy now has confidence thanks to the way he has handled the situation.

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MVBlue added 18:14 - Apr 15 I am not the biggest Roy Keane fan, I have been negative at some points about our style of play under him. But as a negative voice I think Conor Wickham has been the best thing about this season.
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itfc1981 added 18:37 - Apr 15 Rhodes and Wickham, what an opportunity missed.
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MAVERICK added 20:28 - Apr 15 He can only get better !
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Brogansconk added 20:41 - Apr 15 Jas0999 good comments - keano has provided good leadership for the lad, and clearly that has been a deciding factor in him signing his contract with us. Connor will get a dozen goals next year. Maybe not our top striker (oh for the 20+ goals of Bent / Kuqi) but he will still have only just turned 18 in a year., patience wi repay.
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Greektractor added 21:01 - Apr 15 take that ipswichkev
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buryblue77 added 21:51 - Apr 15 I suffered from a serious bout of 'I had no idea what I was talking about' earlier in the season. I made noises to the effect of Keane out, I'm now very much Keane in and I thought that Wickham was a bit overrated. I have since seen that the kid is a special talent and in my mind has matured a great deal this year, (by that I mean I feel he's come in even further in 2010 than he did in 2009)he's an outstanding prospect, glad he's signed with us and he could we become that prolific striker we've lacked since Bent over the next couple of seasons. I don't think we've any worries about him going anywhere anytime soon!

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Mungo added 22:04 - Apr 15 CW has just turned 17 and most of his appearances have been as a substitute, so it is incredibly unfair for people to criticise his goals/games ratio. He's a top talent and will hopefully go a long way. We will not see him become truly prolific for a few years at least, so don't expect too much too soon. Unlike some however, I think that if a proper bid came in for him from a premiership team, then we would have to consider that. We need to add some quality to our team this year and I suspect RK's transfer kitty may not be half the size it was last year following several expensive signings that have been poor this season. Sunderland supposedly want him, so if they offered £5m plus Colback, I would be tempted by that.

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ITFC1985 added 10:08 - Apr 16 think Phil may have got his facts wrong!!! lol 6 starts and 17 sub appearances in the league for Connor with 2 goals and 1 sub appearance in the FA Cup and 1 start and 1 sub appearance in the league cup with 2 goals, thats for this season which works out at 19, but is Phil including last season aswel?
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ITFC_james added 10:40 - Apr 16 Why are people so negative. you're not true fans. A young lad, coming through the ranks, he's still developing and hopefully this time next season we'll be talking about how he's helped our promotion push. fingers crossed.
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ITFC1985 added 10:47 - Apr 16 Hopefully next season he'll come on leaps and bounds, get himself into double figures and help with our push for a top 6 finish!!
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Barhamblue added 22:54 - Apr 16 Jas0999 top comment mate. It's a pity others dont see what good work is taking place. In keano we trust!
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