Town boss Paul Jewell says he expects 17-year-old Northern Ireland U21 international Josh Carson to be involved in more games towards the end of the season, perhaps as part of an all-teenage strike partnership with Connor Wickham. The England U21 international frontman, who turns 18 today, is yet again linked with a summer move to Tottenham by this morning’s tabloids.

Jewell was pleased with Northern Ireland U21 international Carson’s debut against Scunthorpe and says he’s in his plans for Saturday’s trip to Burnley: “I can see Josh being involved again. The only reason is because it stops everyone talking about Connor Wickham! He’s there as a bit of a decoy.

“He did OK against Scunthorpe. He’s going to be a good player. He’s only a kid but it doesn’t faze him. He’s got that little touch of cockiness about him.

“He’s hungry, he’s got two good feet, he’s strong and he’s been a good bonus for us. We’ve got one or two in the academy that I think are going to be decent players, which is always nice.”

Jewell says that it’s wrong to try to draw parallels between the two youngsters, who are both second-year academy scholars: “Josh is a far better player than Connor Wickham,” he joked. “I think it’s unfair to compare them because one’s 6ft 3, the other’s 5ft 2. They’ve got different strengths.

“Connor’s talked about being a Premier League footballer and Josh has probably come in under the radar a little bit. He’s a different type of player.

“If they both continue to flourish as I think they will, they will both be good players. There are plenty of pitfalls between 18 and 30 but if they can stay clear of them and have a little bit of luck with injuries and stuff, I’m sure they can both go on to good things, hopefully with us.”

Jewell says that Carson’s adaptability is a bonus and that with the Blues short on strikers since Tamás Priskin’s loan exit to Swansea he could use him in a forward role, perhaps alongside Wickham: “He’s versatile. He can play up front off the big man, he can play on the right and he can play in the middle of midfield as an attacking midfield player. He’s got a lot of strings to his bow.

“Technically he’s very good, he’s got two good feet and he wants to win. He doesn’t hold back, he’s a tough little kid and it’s nice to see.”

Carson, who has already won two U21 caps, will be away with the Northern Ireland U19s for two friendlies with Slovakia later this month.

Birthday boy Wickham is again the subject of tabloid speculation this morning with reports that he's close to a move to Spurs with the North Londoners said to be ready to table a £15 million offer. The player himself is claimed to have told friends he’ll be leaving in the summer.

Wickham’s recently signed contract is believed to include a clause which would allow him to leave if a club made a bid at a set level, while the Blues have stated on a number of occasions that the Hereford-born frontman won’t be leaving for anything other than a very large fee.

Speaking yesterday prior to the latest reports, boss Paul Jewell said that he’d very much like Wickham to be here next season: “We’re not actively looking to sell him.”

Photo: Action Images

Karlosfandangal added 08:04 - Mar 31 Tottenham has been linked with 3 other strikers one being Van Nistorory on the bbc text page, so if true Wickham will only warm the bench at most, really cant see him going in the summer, If it was someone like Sunderland or Villa or even one of the teams going up, then yes I could see it happening. IF he does go that means Jewell will be looking for 3 strikers in the summer and that is something he is going to struggle with

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BurleyForever added 08:04 - Mar 31 Would make sense nothing to lose.Carson could be as good a player if not better as some of the players who are out of contract this season. I thought Spurs had bigger fish to fry than chase after CW.
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mickeyjb added 08:11 - Mar 31 I think 15 mil if that is true is a no brainer, I guess thats the only way we would see the likes of Bullard, Sharp et al at our club next year
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cromwellblue added 08:15 - Mar 31 Anything over 10M then take it. He is not pivotal to the teams and we can get 3 decent players in for that money.
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DJ_Kesgrave added 08:35 - Mar 31 Stop ar*eing around and recall Ronan Murray. Give an Ipswich Town kid a proper chance. Let's not let him dissapear aka Jordan Rhodes.
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buresmac added 09:17 - Mar 31 Given the players recent commitment and desire to stay and PJ stating we don't have to or want to sell, looks like it has been a quiet day in tabloid land so lets fill column space with an old story! The only thing tabloids get right with any regularity is the date on the front page!
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JayITFC added 09:19 - Mar 31 Happy Birthday Connor!!! :)
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MaySixth added 09:34 - Mar 31 I disagree DJ_Kesgrave. Murray is our player, currently getting regular football elsewhere. He seems to have done well at Torquay so far and there is no harm getting some more experience. Not sure we necessarily need to call him if we persevere with 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 but it would be good to get Murray with us for a full pre-season and being looked at closely.
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itfc94 added 09:54 - Mar 31 £15m is a lot of money...
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CleverTrevor added 10:05 - Mar 31 If Spurs offer £15m we should take it like a shot. No hesitation. We could buy an entire team for that.
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clive_baker added 10:11 - Mar 31 Pleased to see Carson getting a sniff now our season is over. I was hoping when Priskin moved on that someone would get a chance to help out Wickham and Scotland and it looks like that'll happen. Hopefully Priskin does enough at Swansea to get himself a perm move.
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DJ_Kesgrave added 10:24 - Mar 31 if you don't look at Murray now, it will be too late.next season we wil have bought new players and he'll still be at the back of the queue. if you want to sell murray, let him out on loan sell him to lower league aka Rhodes, chance missed.
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cats_whiskers added 10:33 - Mar 31 Wickham is basically a ground player, his aerial ability is bleedin' poor, he's still got a lot to learn regarding positioning and making runs into the box... and I don't think he's worth keeping if big money is offered. Saw him playing on Monday for England U21 and his contribution was very minimal and he didn't exactly dominate any of their defenders. So lets cash in on the hype and I'd rather have Shane Long of Reading... Now he can actually play and "Score"

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CavendishBlue added 10:47 - Mar 31 Josh Carson is a decoy! I love this guy the more that I hear from him.
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rosseden added 11:13 - Mar 31 english strikers are increasing in value due to the new rules coming in, so, with carroll going for £35m, expect this sort of offer for anyone with decent potential when it comes ot the champions league teams...... for £15m id let him go, good player now, could be great, could be another bowditch.......
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MaySixth added 11:26 - Mar 31 Just imagine if Josh Carson turned into the next Mickey Stockwell....
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uppersirbob added 12:05 - Mar 31 £15 Million then let him leave and not back on loan etc we can get in sharp or long etc Cant see spurs spending that amount on a player who has never played in premiership let alone week in week out for a championship side and hasnt scored many either.
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martleshamitfc added 12:20 - Mar 31 £15m is alot of money for a relatively inexperienced/young player so ig Spurs willing to pay then takeit, maybe have CW back for a season long loan?
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itfc1981 added 12:31 - Mar 31 wipes tear from eye
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TractorRoyNo1 added 12:35 - Mar 31 let's get real, this is only another bit of tittle-tattle from the daily mirror. there is no way spurs or anyone else will pay £15m up-front for Connor as he is miles off being a premiership striker (at present), at best it would be half that amount plus £x for a number of first team games and £x for a number of england caps (just like when we sold Benty). the kid has talent, but i've seen nothing - YET - to make me think he is another lineker, shearer or rooney.

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dirtyboy added 14:43 - Mar 31 Firstly, I think the lad would be mad to turn down a move to Spurs, one, because he'll be earning a great deal more and two, because he'll be able to learn from players such as Van der Vaart, Bale and Defoe. I do think he'll be on the bench for a period, but he has to believe in his own ability, he either believes now, or he never will. I for one will be sad to see him go, he's a good hard working team player, and as much as the money will ease the blow, it will be difficult to replace him, the saving grace is that maybe we'll get 2 or 3 decent players (including maybe securing Bullard) but that means we're still short of a player or two of his ability for next season. All I would ever say is good luck. Would love to see him go for less money and come back on loan for next season personally, but that won't happen, and won't help him with respect to settling into the Spurs set up.

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brian_a_mul added 16:22 - Mar 31 If Spurs make CL again I think they will try to get Wickham. If they dont make CL next season it may sway their decision
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Ipswich24 added 17:52 - Mar 31 Spurs have been signing all the good young players for a while now Bale Naughton Kyle Walker Dos Santos Lennon Sandro I think they have a great shout in landing Wickham
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TractorRoyNo1 added 18:27 - Apr 1 WHAT!!! dirtyboy added 14:43 - Mar 31 ....Would love to see him go for less money ....
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