Blues boss Paul Jewell says 15-year-old academy schoolboy Byron Lawrence is already pushing for a place in the Town first team. The midfielder, who Jewell compares to Arsenal and England man Jack Wilshere, this week signed a two-year academy scholarship at Playford Road starting next summer.

Jewell says Cambridgeshire-based Lawrence, who was recruited from non-league Histon's youth set-up, is amongst the most promising academy prospects at present: “We’ve got Byron Lawrence, who has trained with the first team and we think is going to be a player.

"We’ve got some good kids who are coming through, first years, some second years. They’re progressing nicely.

“But Byron Lawrence, the lad who was in the squad [for the Carling Cup match] against Northampton, he’s one who is a bright prospect and who reminds me of a Jack Wilshere type player.

“He’s built that way, he uses his body and he’s a clever player. Whenever he trains with the first team he never looks out of place. He could feature this season.”

The Blues manager suggests the youngster, who qualifies to play international football for Italy as well as England, may even be a little cross that he hasn’t already beaten Connor Wickham’s record of making his senior bow at 16 years and 11 days: “Put it this way, if I said to him now ‘you’re a sub at Forest on Saturday’, he’d be a bit annoyed that he was sub.

“That’s his attitude, he takes everything in his stride. He’s a good kid. I think he’ll be a very good player.”

Jewell also cites Joe Whight, who signed a two-year professional contract in the summer, as another who could make the breakthrough this season, although he has competition at left-back: “We’ve got Joe Whight, who I think is going to be a good player. He’s got Cressy and Mark Kennedy ahead of him [at the moment].”

Photo: Action Images

JewellintheTown added 13:24 - Nov 18 Could do with a haircut, that might speed him up a bit :) Good on ya lad, keep up the good work.
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BiGDonnie added 13:24 - Nov 18 To see Cresswell, Whight and Lawrence in our starting line up would be very promising. I'd happily settle for a bottom half finish (above the relegation spots) if they were to be given plenty of game time in order to feature more next season.
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stringtheory added 13:30 - Nov 18 Wonder if his dad is a fan of romantic poetry?
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Pettitt10 added 13:31 - Nov 18 I'd never settle for bottom half.
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ipswich1992 added 13:43 - Nov 18 I would love to see the likes of lawrence given a run get them in at let us play football. Yes they may get bullied at times but they would come out much better players for it. The other player i want to see given a run is jack marriot he seems to be bangin in goals for fun for the u18s so give him a go. We are crying out for youth and pace in our team. Stockdale Edwards collins delaney whight Carson lawrence andrews creswell Chopra JET Subs Lee-barret Smith Bullard Martin Marriot What about something like that for forrest and lets attack at them!

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newboy added 13:47 - Nov 18 Perhaps some of you should watch the U18's before you get too carried away
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ipswich1992 added 14:20 - Nov 18 And i frequently watch the u18s actually newboy.
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heady added 14:31 - Nov 18 ipswich1992 - you're a clown and that team would get battered.
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allezlesbleus added 14:45 - Nov 18 Trouble is......one or two (team) performances like P'Boro, Doncaster 1st half, Norwich etc and the poor lad would be scarred for life!
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pazelle added 14:51 - Nov 18 Play him, perservere with him, and when he finally looks like he'll be a consistent and important player sell him to the prem reserves ala Wickham! What's the point
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northdevonblue added 15:36 - Nov 18 ipswich1992 is not a clown as i am finding it hard to get behind this group of players at the moment, i would rather be supporting youth and up and coming talent than a bunch of journeymen.
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hadleighboyblue added 15:44 - Nov 18 pettitt10 love it ..............or are you talking football ?
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CambsLass added 16:13 - Nov 18 This is clearly an old pic, his hair is much shorter now. Well done Byron. Its great to see a club using those from its Youth sides. Too many Clubs are buying in foreign players leaving England short of upcoming stars when they need fresh blood.
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Sindre94 added 16:30 - Nov 18 "ipswich1992" - great to see you thinking future, love that. But that team would get battered, im not sure I wanna start Byron or Whight just yet! But great thought:)
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Pettitt10 added 16:42 - Nov 18 hadleighboyblue yes im talking football. it was a reply to Default User's comment
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northernblues added 16:48 - Nov 18 stringtheory you are too well read to be on this site!!
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ipswich1992 added 17:40 - Nov 18 The point im trying to make is playing the oldies week in week out who are underperforming and destined to mid table anyway is pointless as we are not progression. I say give jewell a three year promotion plan and let him build a young hungry squad and develop it and we shouldnt expect instant success look at what burley built but it took time !
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fourth added 18:53 - Nov 18 A simple statement. Welcome to the set-up which means that you can find yourself on the bench next week because you know how to play brilliantly within the system
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s6blue added 19:04 - Nov 18 shocking hair
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LifeLongTownFan added 19:07 - Nov 18 ipswich1992 - ur a joke
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up_the_town4 added 19:59 - Nov 18 I have seen the youth team and checked if these boys were playing and they were and I must be missing something because thhey certainly didnt stand out. Iv seen the victory shield on recently which is a under 16 tournament surely the right age and Lawrence has not been playing why? If hes supposedly the new wilshire. I feel for the lad having massive pressure put on him now by the boss when maybe this is a clever ploy by Jewell to bump these boys prices up ready to be sold it would not supprise me one bit as you continuously hear about these youngsters who are going to be the next best thing training with lower league 1st teams and then bang a few weeks later they are sold for a high price and never heard offf

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CambsLass added 22:10 - Nov 18 up_the_town4 If you been watching the U16s then that will be why you haven't seen Byron Lawrence playing/training. He's been playing in the U18s for quite some time!
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newboy added 07:06 - Nov 19 Everyone is entitled to their opinion 1992 but if you really do watch the U18s you cant honestly believe hes ready for the first team its just the start of hype with jewell wanting his own connor wickham and a diversion from the fact the 1st team is not doing to well currently. Its not doing them any favours to build them up so everyone can knock them down
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up_the_town4 added 15:31 - Nov 19 Cambslass I have never watched the under 16s only are under 18s and either he has just not stood out or he has been sub. The victory shield is a under 16 international tournament on sky tv and iv seen this boy being constantly touted as the next best thing but can't understand why he don't play for England at he's own age doesn't make sense that he will be good enough to play for are 1st team but not them that's why I get the impression it's all a con to get he's price bumped up for a big club to come and buy him.

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ipswich1992 added 02:40 - Nov 21 Its true the only reason why jewell has bought journeymen is because he had been told he needs to deliver instant success. He feels going with thr oldies and loans is the best quick fix. I like jewell however and think he is a good manager. Not any mug could have taken wigan and bradford up and keep them there. But at them clubs he gad time to build his own squad investing in players who would develop in the team. This is what we need, stability, let him know he has our backing give him 3-4 years and say right now buold a squad capable of challenging for promotion in 3 seasons time. The problem nowadays is that managers know that if instant success isnt achieved they will get sacked. With this policy our club will get no where! Oh and one question to everyone as i remember getting slated for supporting jim magilton, was he really that bad, can anyone remember what if feels like to finish in the top half?

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