Town star Damien Delaney has praised schoolboy protégé Byron Lawrence, who may be handed a first team opportunity before the end of the season.

Manager Paul Jewell is a big fan of the former Histon youngster and has hinted more than once that he might hand him a senior debut in the remaining two games, at home to Millwall tomorrow and at relegated Doncaster in seven days’ time.

Delaney said: “Byron is still at school, which says a lot, but he trained with us a lot over Easter and the biggest compliment I can pay him is that he didn’t look out of place. If you walked in during a session, and you didn’t know anything, you would never think he was as young as he is or that he had so little experience.

“He was training just as well as a lot of the senior lads in the squad. Maybe he deserves his chance but he’s only 16 and that’s entirely up to the manager.

“What advice would I give him? Good luck, I’d say. But he’s got a good head on his shoulders and will be fine. He’s got all the potential in the world but it will be about how he takes his chance in the first team when it comes.

“You only find out about them when you stick them into the cut and thrust of first team football. It’s a different animal when you’re playing there, you know.”

Delaney has also delivered his verdict on the fans’ poll to find the Player of the Year, revealing his own personal short list of four.

He added: “You would have to consider Lee Martin and Andy Drury. When they got in the team in January, along with Luke Hyam, the momentum turned in the home win over West Ham.

“I know we haven’t exactly been hurtling forward but I think when they came in we definitely put the brakes on what could have been a very difficult season. They had a huge impact.

“Lee has been exceptional for us in the past number of games and Andy has been outstanding. He’s missed a few games but when he plays and he’s on top of his game he makes a huge difference to us. As well as them Cressy has been pretty solid at the back and Carlos has been pretty good, so I don’t think you can look past those four.”

Photo: Action Images

Tractorcookie added 08:58 - Apr 20 In my mind, player of the season is a straight choice between Lee Martin & Aaron Cresswell. I think Martin has been phenomenal since he came back into the side - particularly for the energy he injects into the side. It is hard to believe that this is Cresswell's first season at this level and despite the fact that our defence has been leaky (to say the least!), I'm not sure the blame can be laid at his door. On balance because of consistency, and the number of games Cresswell has played alongside Martin's red card and subsequent lack of games, Cresswell gets my vote! COYB!

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RegencyBlue added 09:14 - Apr 20 How long before we offer this lad a contract for two hundred quid a week and he decides to pursue his career elsewhere!!!
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Wickets added 09:37 - Apr 20 I find it so strange that Luke has again been forgotten and slipped down the pecking order, fair enough that Dury and Leadbitter have been good of late and retained their places but PJ seems to prefer Bowyer!!! to Luke, in my opinion thats another poor call by our manager.
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London_Blue added 09:37 - Apr 20 Somebody please offer a different photo of this lad to TWTD; he looks like he's been on a bender all weekend and can't afford a haircut! Either that or we're considering cossack style headgear as part of the 2012/13 season colours!
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jas0999 added 10:29 - Apr 20 "You would have to consider Lee Martin and Andy Drury. When they got in the team in January, along with Luke Hyam, the momentum turned in the home win over West Ham" Well said Damien! Sadly, PJ dropped Hyam though, which may explain just 3 wins from last 11. Poor management.
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Len_Brennan added 10:53 - Apr 20 Hyam was dropped after a poor performance jas, after which Leadbitter came in to partner Drury & has arguably been our best & most consistent performer ever since. Hyam is a good holding midfielder & I am a fan, but it's nonsense to suggest that bringing Leadbitter back in to produce his best form ever for us has been poor management. I hope we get to see plenty of Hyam next season & beyond, he has loads to offer & there will be plenty of games where his style & abilities will be a major asset.

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Garv added 12:44 - Apr 20 Thank you Len. Bloody hell that needed saying. Or 2 losses in 11 Jas? Take your pick. And I see you make sure not to say 'in 12' because that 12th game was a win achieved with Leadbitter not Hyam and that would have derailed your argument, shame that. Personally I'm glad we've learnt how to draw games. In such games as Southampton and Hull away when we had to be realistic and accept the game was probably not really going enough in our favour, we held onto a draw. If only we'd done that earlier in the season a bit more eh.

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Wickets added 16:42 - Apr 20 Yes I agree but why did Luke slip below Bowyer, who was on the bench when Luke was left out sometimes he was not even in the 16 !!
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lawshallgirls added 21:51 - Apr 20 Calling Delaney a 'town star' is a bit rich, isn't it phil?!
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statto added 23:36 - Apr 20 Yes Martin has been inspired but Cresswell has been a consistent performer, in a season/team that hasn't had much of that. The only other predictable outcome is that pessimistic 'Jas' will have a moan when we lose and post 'nowt when we win - what a fan!! Can't you block this muppet Phil - anything he writes is abusive to real supporters of the Town.
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