Blues boss Paul Jewell has high hopes for Town’s current batch of academy scholars and says they’re not just decent players but nice guys as well. Last week Russell Osman’s U18s came close to beating Chelsea at their Cobham training ground, the match eventually ending 3-3.

Jewell said: “I think Russell deserves huge credit because the youth team are the nicest bunch of guys we’ve had for a while, they’re really pleasant.

“We got a nice letter from the hospital the other day telling us that they were the nicest bunch of footballers they’ve come across, which is nice because normally all you get is people telling you how horrible your players are! We’ve got some good young players and we’ve got high hopes for a few of them.”

Left-back Joe Whight has already signed a two-year professional contract and a number of others are making their mark, including 17-year-old Icelandic midfielder Gunnar Thorsteinsson, who has appeared in the reserves on a number of occasions since joining the club in July and could be in the team which is taking on Watford at Playford Road this afternoon (KO 1pm).

Jewell said: “I can’t even say his surname. I call him Gunnar. He’s done really well, he’s a terrific professional and under the guidance of Russell they’re coming on leaps and bounds. We’ve got high hopes for a lot of them.

“They were 3-1 up at Chelsea last weekend, even though they eventually got a 3-3 draw, but they’re making progress.”

The Town manager says he’s still to decide whether Northern Ireland U21 international striker Caolan Lavery, who could also be in action for the reserves this afternoon, will be offered a professional contract.

The Canadian-born 18-year-old, who has netted five goals in seven Premier Academy League games so far this season plus a further four for the reserves, had his academy scholarship extended until this month after he suffered a knee injury last season.

Jewell said: “Caolan is one we’re going to have to make a decision on sooner rather than later; whether we’ll give him a contract to the end of the year. But of late he’s progressed really well.”

Photo: Action Images

Kev_b22 added 08:50 - Oct 4 Nice to hear :) With the average age of the squad at the moment the youth coming through could be a nice balance
0

ITFCMonk added 08:50 - Oct 4 sign up caolon lavery!
0

suffolkpoker added 09:08 - Oct 4 sign up lavery!
0

fourth added 09:10 - Oct 4 Some of these "kids" are knocking on the door Mr J
0

Moscow_Blue added 09:22 - Oct 4 Nice to see Gunnar mentioned as we (Greenright Homes) sponsor him.
0

Pessimistic added 09:43 - Oct 4 It sounds encouraging and there is nothing nicer than to see the youth players coming through and even better, playing in the first team eventually!
0

bobble added 10:05 - Oct 4 how come we never see 17 old football managers ? they couldn't be any worse than keane
0

fourth added 10:09 - Oct 4 Bobble They're too busy doing it. Those who can, do.........
0

pazelle added 10:57 - Oct 4 Lavery sounds decent, would have thought he's done enough for a contract. Weren't Spurs interested in him? Make them pay at least!
0

shoopdelang added 12:20 - Oct 4 Apart from Lavery in my opinion as it stands none of them are good enough to earn pro contracts. However they have another 6 months or so to prove me wrong and earn contracts.
0

Garv added 13:22 - Oct 4 Have you watched any of them shoopdelang?
0

broomfield123 added 18:20 - Oct 4 When they get to either play or train with the1st team they will be amoungst some decent players like bowyer bullard sonko etc to learn from
0

ipswich_is_the_best added 20:13 - Oct 4 Lavery suppost to be good Great news Make the more promising train with the first team for the likes of bullard Andrews sonko Collins and Chopra can pass on their experience
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls