Town boss Mick McCarthy has challenged young full-backs Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock to battle the senior pros for their places in the team during the season ahead.

Right-back Emmanuel, 18, and 19-year-old left-back Kenlock, pictured to the left and right of Christophe Berra above at training in Tuesday, both caught the eye in the final weeks of the season having initially broken into the team early in the campaign.

“Josh Emmanuel was excellent in the games that he played in last year,” McCarthy said. “Brentford to start with, Doncaster in the cup, Manchester United in the cup, the MK Dons here.

"He got a little bit of a towelling against Brighton up against Kazenga LuaLua for a while, but overall his performances were [excellent] and he’s got to be the second one to Chambo and challenging for that right-back role.

“I said to him and to Myles Kenlock, don’t be coming back as two daft young lads around the place, you’re first-team squad members and you’ve got to get in the team. I think we’ve got two good young full-backs who are challenging now.”

In midfield, Andre Dozzell, 17, made a goalscoring debut as a sub at Sheffield Wednesday in the closing weeks and was subsequently handed his first start in the home game against Fulham.

Dozzell

McCarthy says the England U17 international will also be involved during the season ahead, although it’s too soon for him to be considered a week in, week out regular, while Teddy Bishop, 19, finally returned to action after his injury problems for the last few games of 2015/16 and Adam McDonnell, also 19, made his Championship debut at Derby on the final day.

“They’ll be in the squad, Bish has always been in the squad, but Dozzell will be if he comes through pre-season and I don’t see why he wouldn’t,” the Blues boss added.

“Doz isn’t going to come in and play a full season, we can forget that. I’m looking at them running round here, they’re all sort of like racehorses and Dozzer looks like a colt.

Bishop with young keeper Harry Wright

“He’s a little bit skinnier than the rest but he’s a really talented player and if we can get him in the squad and Bish in the squad that adds a little bit of magic dust to the place, I think.”

In addition, one or two other younger pros have also caught McCarthy’s eye and will be looking to follow those four into the first team squad this season.

Among them are midfielder or striker Monty Patterson, 19, who helped New Zealand to the Oceania Nations Cup earlier this month, central midfield player James Blanchfield, 18, and Irish U18 international midfielder or frontman Shane McLoughlin, 19.

Blanchfield

“Monty’s done well, James Blanchfield has. Shane McLoughlin he had a good season in the U21s last year,” the Town boss continued.

“They all come back full of hope, that’s what’s nice about it. They come in excited by the prospect of getting in the team and I hope some of them do.

“Some of them have made it. I thought Myles and Josh ended up having really good games at the end of the season. We missed Bish and Andre Dozzell, he’s certainly a bright prospect. So I live in hope for all of them.”

Photo: Action Images

Flewstar85 added 06:56 - Jul 1 I really loved reading this article! This is what Ipswich is all about. Let's hope MM plays these players then I believe we can have a great season.
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billlm added 06:57 - Jul 1 With a normal manager maybe they would mount a challenge
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TractorCam added 07:10 - Jul 1 Let's be honest, it doesn't matter how much they challenge it would have to take something quite drastic for Mick to drop Knudsen and Chambers
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hoppy added 07:12 - Jul 1 This place can be so predictable... A good positive story, excitement for the new season and good young players looking to break through... Only 2 comments so far, and by only the second one, someone has already managed to try to put a negative spin on it. I suppose some just can't help themselves. Hope these lads do well, and that the only negative that comes from it is the headache it will give Mick for picking the team. COYB

12

CornardBlue added 07:28 - Jul 1 At long last we have some young talent coming through, hope MM sticks with them and gives them plenty of game time. They will make mistakes Burley and Beattie did at there age but they became legends i hope these lads can.
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Cloddyseedbed added 07:54 - Jul 1 Personally I think it should be Chambers and Knudsen challenging these two for 1st team from what I've seen. These two should only get better.
7

jas0999 added 08:10 - Jul 1 Playing a couple of youngsters would be fantastic, but alas we won't win anything if we are purely going to rely on the youth team. This seems to me that Mick is having to make do, as Evans is yet again not going to significantly invest in the squad. Kenlock is however a great player.
3

titanicclown added 08:26 - Jul 1 I lersonally think Emmanuel would make a good right winger. Got a good stepover, beats defenders and generally does his best work in the opposition half. Could be an Antonio in the making!!
2

planetblue_2011 added 08:30 - Jul 1 What about McDonnell is he still in his plans!!
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gloucester_tractor added 08:36 - Jul 1 If you get two playing half a season each that will be progress , if three or four play ten games each that will be the future , but if they do play , we need to support them not kill them for any errors . The lack of loan options could help in the long term
1

ArnieM added 08:59 - Jul 1 This article illustrates exactly why MM is not looking to bring in high wage earners. At some point we have to make roon for the Academy lads coming thorugh. Its taken 4-5 yeasr to get to this point : none of these players now being talked about and training with the 1st team squad this pre season, is an accident . It has ALL been planned. Howevere they will not all suddenly be playing 20 games +...but the odd subs appearance here and there and the cup games. This Club for all its money issues , IS being run the right way now , and IS going in the right direction. We acnt compete with the PL failures , who have vast sums of parachute money , and farmkly I wouldnt want to ...its doesnt bring success ( ask any scum, Bolton or QPR fan). Town will do it the right way and Im REALLY looking forward to seeing some of these young guns break into the team now. COYB's

12

Len_Brennan added 09:09 - Jul 1 I think Kenlock is a really good option at left back & definitely should be putting Knudsen under pressure for a starting spot. To be fair to Knudsen, he did get better as the season went on - I remember Alex Ferguson getting slated over Evra & Vidic in their first season at Man Utd, so it can take some time for a foreign player to adapt - and should hold onto the spot for the opening games message at least. The real positive is that we are decent at left back with good cover, not Aaron Cresswell decent, but no other Championship club is either. At right back it's not as good IMO. I have a lot of time for Chambers, but I don't expect him to suddenly have ironed out all his full back weaknesses over this Summer. Emmanuel looks a good prospect, but I'm not as confidential about him as I am about Kenlock - possibly unfair I accept, just my opinion. For that reason I still lament the no -signing of a genuine right back. Berra ( if he has put last season behind him), Smith, Webster & Digby as centre halves should be ok, but another sub-par season for Berra & defence will be a problem for us again.

1

brian_a_mul added 09:10 - Jul 1 Its very exciting I must say. Dont forget Webster is only 21 so we will have a lot of freshness to the first team squad this season which will be great for the club :) Leeds and Wolves have been doing it for the last few seasons. Its certainly the way forward. Even Newcastle will probably have Armstrong as a first team striker this season.
1

Len_Brennan added 09:12 - Jul 1 Damn predictive text.
1

NSL added 09:29 - Jul 1 Dozzell is a bit skinnier than the rest! Oh I through we wanted a fat winger. He'll probably be a 15 stone centre back and look like Danny Shittu by the end of the season once Mick has finished with him don't you worry!
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paulcooperisgod added 09:49 - Jul 1 So much for MM seeing CHAMBERS as a centre back like he saidat the end of last season! Looks like it's gonna be the same back four all season again and he'll most probably loan the youngsters out again while we let in soft goals as per normal.
3

MattinLondon added 09:56 - Jul 1 Good to hear that the younger players are being considered but judging by how many mistakes the defence and midfield made last season, the senior players will have to become a complete liability before they will be dropped.
4

PhilTWTD added 10:13 - Jul 1 planetblue_2011 His name didn't come up but he is signing a new contract so will be in the plans as well. Have added his name in as should have been mentioned.
1

Cloddyseedbed added 10:20 - Jul 1 Can't see a different back 4 this season unless injury keeps any of Chambers, Smith, Berra and Knudsen out of the side.
3

TR11BLU added 11:11 - Jul 1 @ Paulcooperisgod Wanted to give to two up votes for that post - spot on my friend.
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cats_whiskers added 11:20 - Jul 1 McCarthy Quote: “They're all sort of like racehorses and Dozzer looks like a colt” Unfortunately he hasn't named the Cart Horses and Donkeys Maybe he doesn't want to name them individually.
1

Kesgraveblue57 added 11:48 - Jul 1 Fans who beleave McCarthy play these youngsters on any form of regular basis are not living in the real world.McCarthy is a very poor manager and he has to cope with player power within the club which he created
5

Bluejake added 12:01 - Jul 1 Phil, what's the latest on the season ticket take-up numbers?
0

runaround added 12:28 - Jul 1 Would love to see Emmanuel & Kenlock become first choice full backs by this time next year although I'm not 100% sure Mick would be brave enough to do this. Sooner or later you have to integrate the young players into first XI if they're good enough. On the face of it we have some talented youngsters to build a team around
3

gosblue added 13:25 - Jul 1 Like any player on the fringes, these young guys have to be ready when the chance comes along. Mings never looked like getting a kick until Cressy left. He was more or less ready, if somewhat raw, when the chance came along. That is not down to luck. It is called development. Everyone is different. Some need games on loan, some just need bench time. The massive investment in our academy looks like it may be about to bear fruit. Fingers crossed.

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