Boss Mick McCarthy says 17-year-old first-year academy scholar Kundai Benyu isn’t far from making his first-team debut and that he was close to being involved in Sunday’s East Anglian derby at Norwich. The central midfielder was on the senior bench for the first time at Carrow Road.

“It depends what game it is,” McCarthy said. “He was within a hair’s breadth of going on on Sunday but I didn’t think that was the game for him.

“And going on and making a debut it can be, not make or break as such, but it can either push you on or set you back a long while.

“There wasn’t a lot of room to play in that game on Sunday and the pace of it was frantic. I don’t think it was a game for Kundai.

“But he trains with us, he’s travelling with us and he doesn’t look out of place training with us, he’s a good player.”

Camden-born Benyu, who also qualifies to play international football for Zimbabwe, recently signed his first professional contract taking him through to June 2018. The central midfielder has been a regular in the U21s this season and has hugely impressed his manager.

“He’s a very talented, skilful midfield player,” McCarthy added. “He can look after the ball with his feet, he finds a pass.

“As for the physical side of it, he’s just 17 and seeing him stripped alongside the first-team players who have been in the gym for the last five years and are all built like beasts, he’s a skinny dipper when compared.

“But he copes with it, that’s fine. I’m not saying you have to be a big, powerful player but that does help, certainly in the Championship.

“He’s a real talent, the way he can go past people he’s a bit like Bish, similar to him. We’ve got some good youngsters coming through. I’m really pleased, the academy’s thriving at the minute.”

Meanwhile, Town’s U18s drew 0-0 away at Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon in a match rearranged from Saturday.

Photo: Action Images

CavendishBlue added 07:05 - Mar 4 Skinny dipper!!!!
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marco007 added 08:15 - Mar 4 Yes, but can he launch the ball into the corners ??
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bluefeast added 08:37 - Mar 4 Skuse is built like a beast in the mouse section of animals.
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toxtethblue added 08:40 - Mar 4 "Very talented and skilful midfield player?" Why do we need one of those??
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footyblue added 08:45 - Mar 4 play him then dont just talk about it
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curiousblue added 09:07 - Mar 4 "He can look after the ball with his feet, he finds a pass". - mmmm based on the current state of play on the pitch, Mick isn't likely to play him. Our general play is hoof, and not find our target, unless Mick is now looking at plan B
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Lightningboy added 10:29 - Mar 4 Sounds promising..just imagine a midfield duo of Benyu and Bishop "passing" the ball around the pitch in the coming seasons....anything would be better than hoofing it...Mick and our players need to have more faith in their passing game - they're more than capable of playing decent football but at times you do wonder what their instructions from the dressing room are?

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algarvefan added 11:08 - Mar 4 We only seem to be able to play one way and have been found out, better teams can stop us playing our game, I honestly think our season is done for unless we can change things, a lad like this just might be the answer...... we need a play-maker to mix things up. Give the lad a game but maybe against a footballing side not dirty Leeds!!!
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Ryorry added 11:53 - Mar 4 Jeez, some of the negativity in the comments section is unbelievable. Let's just celebrate another of our Academy talents being good enough to be on the verge of a breakthrough eh? Always great when that happens, and credit to all involved, staff and Benyu himself (good song potential there!), who've obviously worked hard and well to get to this point.
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strikalite added 16:49 - Mar 4 That's the problem with Tabb, too small, not imposing enough, if he could go past a player or come up with a wonder goal here and there then maybe, I understand he's there to be a little terrier and break up play and play a simple little pass, but for me it isn't enough in this league....That's all Skuse does really, and Hyam....all three offer little else. Bit more magic in the middle is very welcome....be good to see him get a little game time ready for next season..

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Karlosfandangal added 17:40 - Mar 4 Talking to a Norwich fan today, he asked if our midfield had neck ache watch the ball go over their heads, he said he felt that if we had played the ball on the ground it would have called them problems. He also said that after 20 mins he was thinking about having a nap as Norwich were doing the same thing
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