Marriott a Better Player After Loan Spells
Tuesday, 12th Aug 2014 06:00

Town boss Mick McCarthy believes striker Jack Marriott - who will make his first start for the Blues at Crawley this evening - is a better player for his loan spells with Woking in the Skrill Premier last season.

“He is different, he’s leaner, he’s more serious about his game, about his fitness and I think you get that through going and playing every week,” McCarthy said.

“Not that I’m saying he wasn’t before, but you get a little bit more aware of your body and how you need to be to get through games and how you need to be to get through a season playing at a tougher level.

“Believe me, that Skrill Premier isn’t easy to play in. Not that I played in it, thankfully, but I’ve watched enough of it to know that it’s a tough old league. He’s a better player for it.”

The 19-year-old scored 13 goals in 23 starts during two spells with the Cards last season with a short stint with Gillingham, in which he appeared once as a brief sub, sandwiched in between.

While Marriott and 17-year-old Barham-based ex-Claydon High School pupil Matt Clarke are both starting tonight, 18-year-olds Teddy Bishop, Byron Lawrence and Ben Wyatt, a left-back who signed after his release by Norwich in the summer, and 19-year-old former Spurs academy striker Darren McQueen are set to be amongst the subs.

McCarthy says he’s been particularly impressed by first-year pro Bishop: “He’s a very talented footballer, he sees a pass, he’s got good ball control, ball retention. He’s got a good range of passing.

“He’ll have a goal in him because he likes to get forward and get in a shot and he’s learned to do the dirty jobs as well - get back, track back, get in your shape and work hard and tackle. He’s progressing nicely and he’s improved a great deal.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy says right-back Kyle Hammond, who might also have been in the running for his senior debut tonight had he not ruptured an anterior cruciate knee ligament in March, is continuing his recovery.

The 18-year-old ex-Westbourne High School pupil isn’t due to be back in action until the end of the year but the Town boss says his rehab is going to plan: “He’s looking to get on the AlterG, which is a machine where you can run while weightless. He’s progressing and he is where he’s expected to be.”

Photo: Action Images

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Guthrum added 07:30 - Aug 12

I like the fact that we give the Youth a run-out in the Cup. It gives a number of them together the opportunity to play in a proper, first team game, in front of a full crowd and alongside some of their more experienced seniors - but without too much riding on the match so less likely to induce nerves.

In the absence of a decent reserve/youth league, it's about the only chance we've got of blooding our up-and-coming youngsters and letting fringe players have a go without taking a significant risk in one or more of the 46 Championship fixtures.

BillBlue added 07:35 - Aug 12 In other words, like all young men, he is beginning to mature as he changes from lad to man! McCarthy he might have matured even more had he played each week at the Championship level and, nobody knows, he might have scored the goals that got us higher than ninth!
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SheptonMalletBlue added 08:47 - Aug 12 BillBlue, are you real!!!!!?
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BillBlue added 08:57 - Aug 12 Yes, for sure! Are you?
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pazelle added 09:01 - Aug 12 Go on Mazza, take your chance!
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TimmyH added 10:34 - Aug 12

Strange how all of a sudden the players he (controversially) put out on loan last season are now better players - either backing himself up for the decisions he made or the acceptance that these players have to be part of the squad (not loaned out again) as ME will not allow to many more players to come in and saving further wonga. Saying that though Hewitt did have quite a good game on Saturday but it is only 1 game.

clint_eastwood added 10:37 - Aug 12 He does remind me of Orlando Bloom a little bit..
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Lightningboy added 10:50 - Aug 12 Great that there seems to be a bunch of promising kids coming through again. One of the best signings we've made in recent seasons was bringing Bryan Klug back home.
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TractorCam added 12:11 - Aug 12 No Billblue, he would not of been the difference between us coming 9th and 6th
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oldegold added 12:38 - Aug 12 Billblue has been castigated by all and sundry.I agree with him though. Our young players must be given their chance and we must create an environment where the young players will be given their chance to succeed. How many players of our 2005 FA Youth cup winning team made it through?
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BillBlue added 12:57 - Aug 12 TractorCam - what are you then? Some sort of soothsayer or just another mug?
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BillBlue added 13:16 - Aug 12 oldegold - thanks for your support and I obviously agree entirely with what you are saying. However, 'castigated' is far too strong a word, the negatives are just created by the 'minus pushers' and if you check I think you will find that, so far, only one of those has posted and that one was not a credible post so they are like water off a ducks back!
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