Boss Mick McCarthy believes all clubs receive a boost when young players such as Blues pair Teddy Bishop and Tyrone Mings break through into the first team.

Bishop, 18, and Mings, 21, have become regular members of the Town side this season with Premier League clubs keeping tabs on them both.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed his interest in left-back Mings, although yesterday dismissed claims he is set to make a move in January. McCarthy has repeatedly stated his determination to keep his promotion-pushing squad together beyond the transfer window.

“It’s brilliant when you get a couple of good young ‘uns in,” he said. “I think it gives everybody a bit of a kick, a bit of a thrill, especially if they’ve come out of the academy like Teddy has.

“Ty, we signed him from elsewhere, but it’s still nice when you’ve got good young players.

“The academy does appeal to everybody. Any club that gets them through, it’s a big thing.”

Another academy player who might have made an impact this season was right-back Kyle Hammond, who featured for the senior side during pre-season ahead of 2013/14.

The 19-year-old spent time on the sidelines due to a knee injury early last season, then in March suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury to the other knee which has seen him miss the first half of this campaign.

But McCarthy says the former Westbourne High School pupil, who signed a one-year professional contract with an option for a further season in May, is making progress.

“Kyle’s coming back, he’s on his rehab,” the Town boss said. “Great kid, Kyle. End of January, I think. He’s back running, hopefully he’ll get himself right so he can play some games before the season finishes.

“The injury was a big blow for him but we’ve looked after him and we’ll continue to look after him and get him back fit and see what happens.”

The Blues boss was at Colchester last Thursday to see the U18s beat the U’s 4-2 on penalties in the FA Youth Cup after a 0-0 draw after extra-time.

“It was nice to see them progress after a really difficult, gruelling evening for them,” he added. “Colchester set up, rightly or wrongly, to make it hard for our guys to play against and it posed them a problem.

“I don’t think they’ve ever had to work that out. And I have to say Colchester played well on the break and had a couple of chances.

“But it was lovely to see them get through and now they’ve got the reward of playing at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.”

He says those players still have a fair way to go before they come into consideration for the first-team squad

“They’re not ready,” McCarthy continued. “They’re all progressing at where they are but if you look at my team, Tyrone Mings is a young one and Bish is in there, but Bish had his time in the youths, he’s different class, but Christophe Berra, Tommy Smith, Chambo, Hunty, Skusey, Murph, Didz, Ando, Tabby, they’re all of a good age.

“Let me tell you, if they are [ready] then they’ll get the opportunity, but they’re not ready for that yet.”

The fourth round tie away at Sunderland will be played on Tuesday 13th January (KO 7pm).

Photo: Action Images

Paulblue62 added 08:04 - Dec 24 Great to see these young lads coming through and making an instant impact. I always think these kids give more as they have something to prove. ( not the case, but it seems that way ).
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jas0999 added 09:12 - Dec 24 Great that Mick gives the young players a chance. Also great to see him attend the youth games ... He just seems to know all the young players. Not convinced previous managers would have?
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Luka added 09:43 - Dec 24 Anyone remember when some here were saying that Mick was gonna ruin our youngsters? They, like the Paul Taylor lovers, and the "Get Mick out" idiots have gone rather quiet recently (no idea why). Bishop and Clarke are examples that Mick knows best when it comes to our youngsters. Unless told, you wouldn't guess that Bishop is as young as he is. Best I have felt about our chances for a while. UPT COYB

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Paddy39 added 10:52 - Dec 24 Some people laughed at me when I said we should get McCarthy as manager, look whose laughing now. MM & TC just suit our kind of club and who else could build a squad like we have for £10,000. I hope even if we lose one or two games we don't get the boo boys back as we need to back the boys 100% to help them over the finishing line. I'm sure there's no one on here would have thought we'd be where we are in the league this Christmas Eve long may it continue. It's going to be a great Christmas if we get another 3 points at Brentford. COYB's.

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afrodids added 11:11 - Dec 24 Lets not forget Hyam too he's only a youngster too :)
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Kirbmeister added 12:06 - Dec 24 Couldn't agree more with the previous entries. After our average start i couldn't believe all the negative comments from the 'MM out' brigade. Would love to see those comments now and who wrote them. I said then 'see where we are at Xmas'. Don't forget though, they will be back if we have a couple of poor results.
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bohslegend added 12:20 - Dec 24 Careful Kirby, you're not allowed to remind the 'Realists' that they said anything negative ;-)
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TractorRoyNo1 added 20:54 - Dec 24 Our hoof ball was ruddy good on Saturday especially in the build up to the 2nd goal
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oldegold added 21:36 - Dec 24 It seems that for some supporters like bohslrgend and kirbmeister that if you don't belong to that bland and homogenous element where if you dare to offer an opinion which does not correspond to their own then you somehow belong to a so-called MM brigade. Doesn't work that way chaps because we are all entitled to our opinions and just because they differ then it does not make fellow Town supporters "idiots", as Luka so "eloquently" espoused. These Johnny come lately supporters need reminding that Teddy Bishop has come through but Tommy Smith and Luke Hyam were sponsored by Roy Keane before falling foul of Paul Jewell's loan player mania.One has to go back to Sir Bobby's reign starting with the autumn of 1973 when the likes of Gates, Burley, Osborne,Tibbott,Peddelty arrived to be followed by Roberts,Wark,Austin,Turner,Stirk,Osman,Butcher and Brazil. Got a long way to go chaps before MM will be considered a manager who actively promotes from the youth ranks. Study your Ipswich history chaps before branding Town fans with tags.

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Kirbmeister added 22:47 - Dec 24 Oldegold - I wasn't really referring to our youth policy but the general improvement since MM took over. I've supported since 1970 and seen all the good times. I just think MM's done a good job with his £10k squad. All I was saying was there weren't many positive comments at the start of the season - except a few from myself and others who knew what he was trying to do. You many not like him but I think he's just what we need. Happy xmas

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oldegold added 23:40 - Dec 24 Point taken Kirbmeister.I have been an advocate of Town youth policy since 1973 and endorse Sir Bobby's point that Ipswich will only prosper with a flourishing youth policy and 3 FA Youth cup victories in 1973,1975 and 2005 testify to that.Good to see some young players knocking on the door but we still have a long way to go but hopefully things will thrive now ad we need to push our home grown talent. Merry Christmas to all..have a glass on me!

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Kirbmeister added 00:10 - Dec 25 Will do - Would be great to get promotion - even the BBC would at least have to acknowledge our presence!
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stevelincsexile added 08:33 - Dec 25 Oldie gold don't forget Sivell, Beattie, Talbot,Woods, Betschin, Geddes, Lambert and Whymark and I have probably forgotten some others, have a merry Christmas.
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stevelincsexile added 08:35 - Dec 25 Sorry oldegold bloody spell checker.
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oldegold added 08:44 - Dec 25 Donn't worry stevelincsexile sbout the spelling as after a few glasses of good Chianti today it will not make sny difference lol ! I could get very misty eyed with some of the great names you mentioned and it shows what a cracking youth set up we had all those years ago. Didn't Sir Bobby only sign 14 players in 13 years? Your names were the bedrock of thr 1978 victory. Have a great Christmas..and a glass on me!

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