Boss Mick McCarthy says one or two of the new intake of full-time academy scholars have already impressed both him and some of the club’s senior pros. Last week, Town announced that 10 youngsters, many of them local, will begin two-year scholarships in the summer.

McCarthy says they are already familiar to him from Playford Road, although most tend to be some way off the first team at 16, with the occasional exception.

“They’re generally miles off the first team at that age group, certainly coming in," he said. "There’s the certain odd one that stands out, as Dozzer has, as Bish did actually, as a kid with his ability.

“But I see them every day because we’re all in the same building and on a lot of occasions they train with us.

“There’s many a Monday morning where we just put them all together and have a big seven, eight or nine-a-side competition and just have a look at them, just to get the first-teamers who have played [at the weekend] back playing and we let them join in.

“So I do get a good viewing of them, I see quite a bit of them. I’ve not seen them play matches because they play on a Saturday.”

Asked whether there are any who he believes could be involved with the first-team squad within the next couple of years, he cited Zimbabwe-born, Colchester-raised box-to-box midfielder Tristan Nydam (pictured), who is on standby for the England U17s squad for the European Championships which start in Azerbaijan later this week and is one of those who has already trained with the Town first team.

“Tristan Nydam, he’s a really good player,” McCarthy said. “I won’t go through them all because I don’t know all their names off the top of my head, but he’s the one that’s stood out for us.

“There are a couple of them, actually. They’ve trained with us, they’ve trained with the first team.

“What’s always nice when they train with the first team is that the first-teamers go, ‘I like that!’.

“Some of the older players, the likes of Chambo, Skusey and Dougie, they recognise when they’ve trained against them [and they’ve been impressed] and will ask who they are. There are two or three of them who have stood out.”

Elsewhere, former Blues striker and academy product Jack Marriott carried off the Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season, Internet Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Away Player of the Season gongs at Luton’s end of season awards dinner on Sunday.

The 21-year-old joined the League Two Hatters last summer following his release by Town and has scored 14 goals in 24 starts and 19 sub appearances so far during 2015/16 with one to play.

Photo: Action Images

Fixed_It added 06:34 - May 3 Anyone who manages to put a negative spin on this story isn't a true Town fan. So don't bother.
22

stevelincsexile added 06:52 - May 3 Nice to see Marriott doing well always thought we let him go to early.
10

Penguinblue added 06:53 - May 3 McCarthy, 'Chambo, Skusey, Dougie'. God help us if these 4 have too much influence on the youngsters - let them learn with the football experts in the academy. McCarthy Out
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jas0999 added 07:07 - May 3 Very pleased for young Jack. Congratulations to him. Good to hear youngsters are coming through as well, but it's important not to put too much pressure on them.
6

ChrisFelix added 07:23 - May 3 So Marriot was sacrificed to pay the wages of Coke. That's why so many fans are fed up. Bobby Robson rarely wasted a young player
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hoppy added 07:37 - May 3 Wishful thinking, Fixed_It. You knew it was going to happen...
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Stato added 07:38 - May 3 Anyone who can put a positive spin on how/why the academy has never made Cat A status is even more deluded than those who think McCarthy will ever get us playing attractive football.
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Kirbmeister added 07:54 - May 3 Agree with Fixed_it - some on here may as well copy and paste their comments from the other news items as it's the same tedious drivel all the time.
11

cats_whiskers added 07:58 - May 3 McCarthy's lieutenants couldn't have rated striker Jordan Brown who has left and joined Premiership West Ham after a recent trial there. More than likely they use a totally different and more reliable method to assess young players, rather than this gang of four which McCarthy employs Those guys are definitely not exactly what you'd call the skilfully accredited bunch, but are mainly known for their dour talents which are what McCarthy favours.

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grumpyoldman added 08:02 - May 3 One do the great pleasures I have had over the years watching the blues is seeing home produced players going on and flourishing in the first team, hopefully Bishop was the first of a new band of these talented players. Marriott may have found his level, he never really set the world alight when given his limited opportunities here.
6

grumpyoldman added 08:02 - May 3 One do the great pleasures I have had over the years watching the blues is seeing home produced players going on and flourishing in the first team, hopefully Bishop was the first of a new band of these talented players. Marriott may have found his level, he never really set the world alight when given his limited opportunities here.
2

rfretwell added 08:12 - May 3 Are we scouting the French league divisions? Kante, Leicesters tremendous midfielder, they picked up from div 2 Bolougne. Mahrez similarly. Come on Mick, players aren't so expensive over there.
4

BrettenhamBlue added 08:13 - May 3 Cats Whiskers Wasn't he already at West Ham? I think he came in as a trialist and scored 2 goals but then just returned to West Ham. Chances are he may have just been testing the water as it sounds like West Ham didn't want to lose him. Jordan Brown, George Dobson, Sam Ford. They have some really impressive players coming through. Dozzell, Bishop, Kenlock and Emmanuel have all made the grade with us so we should feel reasonably positive going into the new season. ChrisHants Coke was brought in as a first team player whilst Marriott was pretty much a reservist. Completely different wage structure. The main player whose wage we need to move on is Stewart. If we can free up wages there we could sign up a number of young players for next season. Coke is going nowhere. He has had a dreadful season and will want to make amends.

0

cats_whiskers added 08:28 - May 3 Apologies to all for my error. It was Sam Ford who was released and not as PJewellisaGod pointed out... Amended: McCarthy's lieutenants couldn't have rated striker “Sam Ford” who has left and joined Premiership West Ham after a recent trial there. More than likely they use a totally different and more reliable method to assess young players, rather than this gang which McCarthy employs Those guys are definitely not exactly what you'd call the skilfully accredited bunch, but are mainly known for their dour talents which are what McCarthy favours.

-1

Elto added 09:12 - May 3 How and why has this story been turned into another Giles Coke abuse session? He probably reads this garbage. Does he really deserve the stick he gets on here? I think not. He's hardly played. Give the man a break and shut up.
9

ChrisFelix added 09:27 - May 3 I have watched Town since 64 & watched many youngsters as well as older players arrive at the club. The frustrating thing was that MM never gave Marriott a chance.This season all we needed was a couple of quality additions to a useful squad and our season would not now be over. Players like Coke & Douglas where never good enough to challenge for the Premiership
5

carlisleaway added 09:37 - May 3 We will not make category 1 and why waste all the money that the Premier League are asking when they keep moving the goal posts. Money better spent on wages and we are bringing good quality youth players through the system. ME has spent big on a new 3G pitch on Playford Road, give the man credit for goodness sake
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Mr_Evans added 09:48 - May 3 Carlisleaway - Spent big on a 3G pitch? Most schools and sport centre have 3G pitches, I doubt it's a big expense. We have an artificial pitch at Portman RD, how often is that ever used? The club may asleep Tarmac it over and make it a car park!
1

muccletonjoe added 10:08 - May 3 If we have 2 players in the under17 tournament , why worry about cat A . From what i have seen of some of these younger players we are doing ok with bringing through our own lads
1

mutters added 10:37 - May 3 Yay Penguinblue wins!!! Well done for being such a grumpy so and so. Not sure how you have time to do it with real life and everything, how do you manage to fit in such negativity on a regular basis. In other words, please cheer up man!! Life really is too short/.....
4

essexboy added 11:23 - May 3 Come on lads,we all want what is best for our club.If some of these kids show class then give them a chance.Remember the Robson days.!! Burley.mills.osman,Butcher.Etc;
3

Penguinblue added 11:23 - May 3 Cheers Mutters
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BlueMachines added 12:41 - May 3 @ Elto Why do you think Coke hasn't played? I'd be interested to hear your opinion.
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Elto added 13:14 - May 3 BlueMachines He has been injured since Feb. He was brought in as back up, as was Toure. From what little I have seen they have been adequate for this role. My point is some here reference them almost daily as if they are in some way to blame for our disappointing season. I'm not saying Coke is a great player but feel the stick he gets on here is unjustified and tedious.
4

The_Romford_Blue added 13:25 - May 3 Even this became a blubfest
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