Town boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues have plenty of young players capable of emulating the breakthrough made by Teddy Bishop this season during 2015/16. While McCarthy will be looking to make additions to his squad over the summer, he believes there are a number of youngsters who are making progress.

Bishop broke into the first-team at the start of the campaign, making his debut as a sub in the Capital One Cup in August, and quickly became a regular. The 18-year-old has now made 25 starts and 11 sub appearances and won a call into the England U19 squad before pulling out due to injury.

Defender or midfielder Matt Clarke, 18, also made his senior debut when he started at Crawley and went on to make his first four league appearances from the bench.

“We’ve got some good young players here, the likes of Kundai Benyu and Adam McDonnell, who we signed from Shelbourne,” McCarthy said in an interview with Ipswich Player.

“Obviously Teddy has broken through in the middle of the park and done superbly well and there’s a few others that are progressing well, too.”

Benyu, 17, emerged from the academy during the first year of his scholarship and was on the first-team bench on a couple of occasions.

McDonnell joined the Blues from the Dublin club on the final day of last summer’s transfer window, signing a two-year deal, but Town were unable to receive FIFA clearance for him to play competitive football due to red tape relating to his education programme.

The Irish U19 international, who was joined at Portman Road in January by another former Shelbourne player, 20-year-old winger Dylan Connolly, turned 18 earlier in the month and won’t have the same issues during the season ahead.

McCarthy has said that midfielder McDonnell would have been on the bench at Millwall early in the year had he been available.

The Town boss believes some of his other summer of 2015 signings ought to have made more of an impression.

“Players like Alex Henshall and Cameron Stewart should have been pushing the likes of Tabby, Ando and Hunty more last season,” he added.

“They should have been in my squad more regularly but, let me tell you, Alex in particular has shown a great attitude.

“He’s come back from being put in the U21 squad and training with them and done very well, I’ve been pleased with him.

“I’ve spoken with Alex and he’s of the mindset to come back, hit the ground running and have a good go at it again next season.

“Perhaps he could see that, as a young man, this opportunity was ebbing away and he wants to take it. He should be in my squad, and Cameron is the same.

“The opportunity is there for them and it’s down to the players. They get all the help, information and assistance from the coaching staff, it’s up to them to take it.”

Henshall, 21, has another year left on the deal he signed following his release by Manchester City last summer, while Stewart, 24, who was released by Hull City a year ago, signed a three-year contract after his switch to Leeds broke down.

Photo: Action Images

are_these_the_days added 07:21 - May 23 Walk the Wark - exactly my thoughts too. Owen Garven available, would be great to have him back
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brazilblue added 08:56 - May 23 Ben Pringle on a free!?
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runningout added 09:20 - May 23 Not thinking of top six, as it's negative in so many ways, when without doubt top spot is the aim..
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warktheline added 09:37 - May 23 What talented players have been managed out of the club? Jet- Released by Bristol City. Taylor- Can't give him away! Hewitt- Average at best. Marriott- signed by Luton Town! ATTITUDE also factors in to a players DNA...recently recall Smith mentioning certain players were disrupting team spirit. Two and a half years ago we were the laughing stock of the Championship, not so now, that's for sure.

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TimmyH added 10:45 - May 23 Frank Nouble - released by Coventry! (Micks not always right about players, how long did he perceiver with him? )- we could all see he wasn't a Championship player but now he's been released by a league one club.
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Razor added 12:05 - May 23 Is Mick trying to tell us no money signings this summer or any signings of QUALITY. iI sincerely hope not----at least 4 signings for me, 2 in midfield, competent goalie and another striker minimum. Henshall had great game at Derby away and was then ditched-----only Mick knows why.
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warktheline added 12:18 - May 23 @timmyH, to be fair to McCarthy, I believe he's willing to give anyone a go ( with the right attitude ) if there is the slight chance a gem gets unearthed on the cheap! Whether that's his policy or club, is up for debate!
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TimmyH added 12:33 - May 23 @wark - just trying on my shorts and dusting down my old gola football boots :) but I'm not a gem more like an old lump of coal! On another note has anybody heard anything about Anderson?, according to The Sun (for what it's worth) that he had been released by us.
1

blueboy1981 added 13:14 - May 23 battyblue .......... probably one of the best, and absolutely accurate, posts to be seen on this forum. Agree with you totally, and anyone knowing the game will too.
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topguy added 13:35 - May 23 I for one would love to see Garvan come back but unlikely, but has to be said a player of his quality and exp would be a great advantage to the likes of teddy and tyrone with a reminder that the grass aint always greener, but lets be realistic before panicing saying we are not getting anyone the season ended 1 week ago and most players and managers are going on holiday give it a break hardly anything is going to get done until june at the earliest all that will be happening is phone calls trying to arrange something most is just agents to papers trying to get interest in their clients.

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warktheline added 14:33 - May 23 Why can't these so called talented players add graft to their game? I think your find Ferguson and Jose M have insisted upon it! TimmyH, maybe our time has long since gone!
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ollie_smith2001 added 15:30 - May 23 Marco007 - I agree. To a point. You need to understand that MM has spent his time brilliantly rebuilding this squad. It may not always be pretty but we're building. Would you have banked on us making the play offs this year?
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therein61 added 18:28 - May 23 Sir Bobby was never afraid to blood youngsters into the fray even though we were heading through the old 1st division trapdoor when he arrived but he managed to do it and our magnificent rise began making us over the years one of the best sides in the land, he had a couple of blind spots(Robin Turner for example!!) but the man put us on the map in a big way, over to you Mick(your blind spot being Jay Tabb, can't fault his effort but no more please!) you have stated we have them coming through then let them have a go instead of being held back by older players at the end of their careers, the Towns future is in your hands and I'm sure after the positive start to your Ipswich tenure you will keep us on the up and up good luck Mick

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loudnproud added 19:59 - May 23 Im of the opinion that our young stars like to play the "passing game". Getting close to MMs first team involves adapting to "hoof ball"
3

Walk_the_Wark added 01:51 - May 24 Same old argument that will rage on here until McCarthy goes.. Difficult as of course I want to see Town do well, but do I want to see McCarthys limitations exposed even more in the Prem? And it's not about money people- just look at Bornemouth. Personally I would rather see a young, talented manager and the a team playing the modern game, blooding youth and building properly even if this meant doing a Norwich and dropping a division and it taking longer. I know I won't be popular for saying that...

2

harlingblue added 03:53 - May 24 Having watched U21 games at Playford Road this year, Clarke, Connolly and Benyu have been standout performers but only the first two are ready to push for a first team place. Connolly is ready now, yes ahead of Henshall and Stewart, while Clarke could push for a defensive place on the bench. Benyu is class but needs time to bulk up for the needs of 1st team football.

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WorcesterBlue added 09:47 - May 24 Thanks Harling blue a useful insight. Connoly sounds like the next to come through and boy we could use someone like him. My thoughts are that Mick has one more chance to prove he can genuinely improve us for the long term. We have a good base of talented players who can both work hard and play attacking football but we need to strengthen in key areas and use our 'flair' players if we are to do so. We need a proper RB, another LB, a more ball winning box to box midfielder to support Bru and Bish and providing we keep the front three, one more genuine wide player (whether from within our own ranks or somewhere else). Oh and a keeper with decent distribution please. Play 433 with MCG withdrawn and keep it in the deck. Whether this (or something similar) will happen, we'll know by Christmas. If not Mick will have proved himself to be the dinosaur I suspect he is.

2

battyblue added 11:43 - May 24 I predict we will be looking for a new manager towards the end of next season if not earlier but sincerely hope MM will raise his game and get us to the promised land.
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are_these_the_days added 11:45 - May 24 @battyblue - sorry mate - meant to plus you. Quite right what you say
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topguy added 18:21 - May 24 to sort out the right position looks like Nathan byrne aint going up with Swindon, a damn good player runs the line with skill and pace and has a good pass for league one these are the player we need to get in soon
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peteswindon added 18:28 - May 24 Amazing all the anti Mick comments on here. I will happily take Micks style off enthusiatic hard working players that bring susess back all day long. I just hope Marcus Evans gets his cheque book out durring the summer to give Mick a flying chance to get us promoted with the one or two positions that need strengthening.
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blue_movies added 18:35 - May 24 what is the point of success if we play like a 70's Barnsley? Please give us back our football.
2

osborne23 added 10:36 - May 25 For me Teddys the most technically gifted player we have. Close ball control and great vision. I really think it will spur on the youngsters to break into the team
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Charlie_pl_baxter added 15:44 - May 25 MM is just playing the game. The more he talks up our youth product the less desperate we'll seem to sign players (even if it's true!) The last thing needs he to say is how much we need to sign players, and have all the agents rubbing their hands together.
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johnnymiller added 19:53 - May 25 Recently met young connelly, he's a good lad and very grateful for a chance at our club. I predict he will be next seasons Bishop who will easily hold a place in the team. We need pace and he certainly has that. To accomadate him and hopefuĺly one or two others and with thrèe strikers we will need a change of style which i hope MM will adopt. In 1979 Mr Robson changed things dramatically after signing Murhren and realised we had to change and signed Thissen too. Us old people know what happened next, the best football i will ever see!. So maybe MM wiĺl see we have enough gifted footballers to change style. This seasons championship has shown that the best three footballing teams have gone up and in the modern game hard work and booting it up to a big striker is going to get you promoted,maybe into the top six if you're lucky as we saw. PS. Foxtrot Oscar Norwich! Hope you get stuffed every week.

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