Town boss Mick McCarthy felt 17-year-old Andre Dozzell put in a “very assured” display during Wednesday’s 1-0 pre-season friendly victory at Colchester.

Dozzell, who also stood out during the earlier friendly at Barnet, broke into the first team at the end of last season, scoring on his debut at Sheffield Wednesday having come on as a sub and making his first senior start in the home game against Fulham.

“I thought Andre looked very assured, I thought he had a very good game,” McCarthy said after the match at the Weston Homes Community Stadium where he used Dozzell in the narrow right midfield role in which Teddy Bishop has also played during pre-season.

How many games does McCarthy, who says he’s close to knowing his starting XI for the season opener at home to Barnsley on August 6th, envisage the England U17 international playing during the campaign ahead?

“I have no idea about that,” he admitted. “That is the million dollar question. But he will play and contribute this year, as I hope will James Blanchfield.

“I like to have a really good core of players, I don’t want to say numbers, and then James, Dozzer, Adam McDonnell, Josh Emmanuel, Myles Kenlock, they are going to have to be the back-up.

“If I take someone else’s young lad [on loan] who is going to go into our team, that is different. If I take someone’s young lad to be our back-up, I would sooner use ours to be honest.”

McCarthy is continuing to look for reinforcements, primarily wide players, and is waiting for Premier League clubs to make their fringe players available for loan, which is likely to happen nearer to the start of the season.

“There are two or three we are trying to get in and two or three loans deals as well," he added. "But we will just keep waiting on that front.”

Would he be disappointed not to add to his squad before the Barnsley game? “I don’t think the players who are here will be disappointed as they will have a better chance of playing.

“Bish has been playing on the right and he is very capable of playing there. While we haven’t picked up any wingers and I am still looking, Bish has played there and Freddie has played on the left.

“I am a great believer in dealing with what you have got rather than bemoaning what you haven’t got because if you are that way, you are going to be more positive in the people playing for you.

“Whatever I have got when we play Barnsley, I will expect a good performance.”

Former loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who was in the England U19s side which exited the European Championships after losing 2-1 to Italy at the semi-final stage in Germany yesterday, remains on McCarthy’s radar.

“I would take him back, I told him that at the end of last season and I told Arsenal that at the end of last season. It is no secret,” the Town boss continued.

“He will be a better player this year for his experience last year. If he would like to come back, I would have him back all day long.”

Meanwhile, Bromley have ended their interest in young defender Joe Robinson, who played a trial game for the Vanarama National League side at the weekend.

“Joe Robinson went to Bromley and had half a game, I think, and they are looking elsewhere. Joe is available to go out on loan,” McCarthy said.

Also back at Portman Road is keeper Michael Crowe after a two-week trial at Portsmouth, also with a view to a loan.

“Michael Crowe is slightly different. He went to Portsmouth with the view to being their first choice keeper — and if he had been that, I would have let him go, of course.

“If he plays one game and doesn’t play well, that’s different — as long as he had started.

“But I think Cooky [Pompey manager Paul Cook] can’t afford to take a lad without too much experience. Portsmouth are a big club with a big fanbase and I think that was too much of a risk for them.

“If he had gone, I would have had to have got another keeper in case we have any problems on the bench. Michael will stay and play U21s.”

The Town first team are next in action at Cambridge United on Saturday afternoon (KO 3pm) when McCarthy says the players who came on during the second half at Colchester - including new signing Adam Webster - will start and in most cases will be given around an hour.

A Town XI expected to include a number of fringe players will be in action away against a Coggeshall Town side featuring pop star Olly Murs this evening (KO 7pm), while an U18s team will travel to face Hadleigh United on Saturday (KO midday).

Photo: Action Images

cats_whiskers added 10:39 - Jul 22 And Oh Look rolly has him as his idol (Jaime Peters) Say nothing more; it isn't worthy of further comment! as he is probably from the Notorious Essex57 fan club Another McCarthy
0

irishtim added 10:58 - Jul 22 I think we should be somewhat excited. Our young players coming through is great. Not all about big money signings. Blood our own and we will reap the rewards. Maybe not this season but i think the future is bright.
5

gosblue added 11:36 - Jul 22 ANM showed flashes of brilliance last year but I agree, not enough. He is not unlike JET in that regard. The step up from U19/U21 football to the physical nature of the championship can be very tough and playing in front of Chambo must be doubly tiring as you're having to do two men's running. Some young lads seem to thrive and others seem to fade. ANM is a year older and will have been following a fitness/nutrition regime provided by Arsenal. I also think MM will have learned a lesson that you have to look after these young lads rather than flogging them to death, whether they are ours or on loan. If he comes back, I for one will reserve judgement but I will judge him on this season's performances not last year's. I say give him a chance.

4

Surco72 added 11:43 - Jul 22 Will be very pleased if we start with our youngsters but really can't see it happening , starting line up will be Bart , Chambo , Smith , Berra , Knudsen , Skuse , Douglas Hyam , Bishop , Sears , Murphy very predictable and easy to nulify by doubling up on Bishop
0

vulcher1 added 11:49 - Jul 22 keep seeing all these comments about how Emmanuel is better than chambers etc, and how he should be starting?! Emmanuel is no where near good enough for the first team yet, his positional sense is very very poor, regularly getting caught behind. for people to claim he is better than chambers in absolutely laughable
2

whosroundisitanyway added 11:55 - Jul 22 cats whiskers Think you'll find that's Giovani Dos Santos. May want to backtrack a bit there.
1

cats_whiskers added 12:15 - Jul 22 Oops I do sincerely apologise for my critical mistake regarding rolly.. He does look like Peters though in that picture Dos Santos was certainly a much more able player (Those were the days)
1

jas0999 added 12:16 - Jul 22 We certainly need 4-6 new recruits. I like to see youngsters come through, but they are unlikely to play 46 games, plus you can't rely on three or four youngsters. It's not fair on them, as they will have equally as many off days as good. I suspect the club have finally realised this squad is bottom six rather than top six. That's what the pre season games have demonstrated. The problem now is bedding in so many potential new players. I hope the club won't use that as an excuse. The whole transfer strategy has again been badly managed by ME and MM.

1

bohslegend added 12:29 - Jul 22 Oh my word. I do despair. Someone says: "Show more faith in OUR kids Mick - not somebody elses". Bishop, Dozzell (only 17 now!), Hyam, Smith to name 4 our own players who have flourished under MM with others such as Emmanuel, Kenlock and McDonnell around the 1st team squad. If you really feel the need to criticise the manager please don't falsify the situation. Never let the truth get in the way of a good old moan.

4

Churchmanschild added 12:39 - Jul 22 FFS if he's assured make him one of your core players??? obviously your core players last season were not good enough MM!! I gave up my season ticket purely on the basis of boredom, we need to play attractive foot ball at home again, otherwise the crowds will keep dwindling season after season as long as MM is in the hot seat.
3

rolly added 13:32 - Jul 22 They look nothing like each other cats_whiskers... Good knowledge tho mate 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
1

JimmyJazz added 13:51 - Jul 22 Prebbs - Bore off - no never heard that before today. I thought it might have been a generation gap thing, but as your first game was in 76 and mine was in 73 then maybe not. Some fans are rather disillusioned to say the least - and memories of our home games earlier this year bring that feeling flooding back - but they seem to be just as stubborn as MM and want to remain disillusioned no matter what. I look for some shoots of encouragement and try to embrace them until they get trampled on - probably the Scum game on live TV.

1

battyblue added 15:36 - Jul 22 Totally agree Jas099 the next excuse will be ..yes but we need time for the new players to gel they have not played any games together bla bla bla totally fed up with this management.
0

ArnieM added 17:01 - Jul 22 I think people need to brace themselves for PL clubs to come calling this season, primarily for Bishop , but also intereset in Dozzell. Sadly we will struggle to hold onto either of them IMO.
0

essex57 added 17:49 - Jul 22 All the supporters who say last year done them in should look how football has changed 40 years a town supporter through thick and thin if your a true supporter you accept what comes along if not why not become a goon er or man u or scouse supporter. Yea you'll get results but yo won't have the same feeling as being a town fan.
-1

coolcat added 22:04 - Jul 22 Totally agree vulcher1. Noticed that last season as well.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls