Blues manager Mick McCarthy says striker Ben Morris isn’t yet ready to feature for the first team but hopes the 17-year-old will be at some stage this season.

McCarthy watched as England U18 international Morris scored his fourth U23s goal of the season and picked up two assists as Gerard Nash’s side beat Hull City 3-1 at Playford Road on Monday afternoon.

“It’s a lot easier scoring at the level he’s scoring at, he’s not playing in the Championship,” McCarthy pointed out.

“Of course, I might hear people scream, ‘Well, you never know unless you play them’. Well, give me half a chance, I might have a little bit of experience in picking players and picking teams and judging whether they are ready to play.

“And hopefully at some stage in the season he will be ready to play. He trains with us on a regular basis and that’s where I see him.

“He’s certainly been playing better and I thought in the U23s game at Portman Road against Leeds when he scored twice [in a 4-0 victory] he was terrific.”

Morris, who is in the second year of his academy scholarship and signed a two-year professional contract in July, was on the bench for the EFL Cup tie against Stevenage in August, his only involvement in a matchday 18 so far.

Photo: TWTD

flyingdutchman added 12:43 - Oct 14 He's got to learn his defencesive responsibility first
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TR11BLU added 12:54 - Oct 14 Will get his chance when our season is 'over' to appease the fans and build up hope for next season. Then will be back in the wilderness.....and so it goes on Dino Out
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bluehook added 13:01 - Oct 14 "I might have a little bit of experience picking players/teams" - well try picking one that isn't so defensive and could possibly muster up a fricking win tomorrow then.
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muccletonjoe added 13:04 - Oct 14 I do agree with mick on this one. But a very good prospect foe the next manager to have coming through
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Cakeman added 13:09 - Oct 14 I am not sure who Mr McCarthy is trying to convince.....us supporters or himself!
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Pilgrimblue added 13:20 - Oct 14 Well if he was "terrific" for under 23's then surely he should be in squad this week. If he's confident then he'll score providing he isn't pressured into delivering when he gets the chance.
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martin587 added 13:22 - Oct 14 He needs the service,and he certainly WONT get it here.!!
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strikalite added 13:33 - Oct 14 ^^agree about the service, kids have no fear, like Rashford, just plays and uses his ability to make up for the lack of experience, which can only come through playing games, or at least getting some minutes late on.. Owen was 17 when he started out, didn't do him much harm...take a risk or two Mick ffs, before we hang ourselves from the top tiers!
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OwainG1992 added 13:55 - Oct 14 Strikalite, i loved Michael Owen growing up but let's be honest the fact he was relied on so much from being 17 is the reason he isn't the England record scorer. But the lad Morris deserves a chance at some point.
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Bluebell added 14:22 - Oct 14 Would it harm to try him given our shortage of strikers at the moment? He can't do any worse than we have done for the last few games and might even score a goal!
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MattinLondon added 14:27 - Oct 14 Morris may well not be ready but a lot of our strikers in the last few years shouldn't have been anywhere near the first team.
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dugoutdave added 14:30 - Oct 14 “Of course, I might hear people scream, ‘Well, you never know unless you play them'. Well, give me half a chance, I might have a little bit of experience in picking players and picking teams and judging whether they are ready to play. So basically fans supporters and ordinary people who pay hard earned money to help pay for me - mind your own business - --sarcastic barstool.

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NoelTheDub added 14:45 - Oct 14 So Mick when he is sold for big money had a good career turns 33 you will look at giving him a start because he is a free agent thats IPSWICH Town in a nutshell for me.Things cant be any worse at this time so it has to be worth having the lad on the bench sooner rather than later yes he will be very raw and make mistakes but so is your old croonies week in week out.

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Karlosfandangal added 15:22 - Oct 14 Problem being is that we have always had youngsters who are not ready but will feature at some point in the season, they play a few games at the end of the season and that's it, Dozzell played a few games yet not playing in the first team as the same for Emmanuael and Kenlock. Mr Robson threw in a Burley Butcher Osman and some bloke called John Wark who had to deal with Billy Bremner. Butcher and Osman had very big boots to fill in Beattie and Hunter yet they did it. Time to put the young lads in and watch them grow, o no sorry I forgot as Alan Hanson said you cant win anything with kids

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MooseJuice added 15:27 - Oct 14 I've had a lot of experience driving vans Mick. Doesn't means the old banger I've had for the last three years is better than the newer version at the forecourt I choose not to buy because I'm stubborn and tight!
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grumpyoldman added 15:50 - Oct 14 How do you know they are not ready until you try them? What harm is there having him on the bench and if we losing or winning (remember when we actually did that), put him on for ten or fifteen minutes. Oh no I forgot I have no experience of picking a team, sorry MM I will try to remember my place in future, sir! Just a point of fact Wark was marking Allan Clarke, I recall Big Al Hunter was reputed to tell Clarke if he tried to rough up Wark again, he would break his f@@king leg.

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Gcon added 15:59 - Oct 14 And once again...positive story about a young player coming through towards first team selection becomes an opportunity to spout vitriol at our manager. It's getting a little pathetic don't you think?
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Bergholtblue added 16:14 - Oct 14 Maybe not good enough yet to start, but being on the bench and getting 10 minutes at the end of each game is going to help his education surely.
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grumpyoldman added 16:30 - Oct 14 How do you know they are not ready until you try them? What harm is there having him on the bench and if we losing or winning (remember when we actually did that), put him on for ten or fifteen minutes. Oh no I forgot I have no experience of picking a team, sorry MM I will try to remember my place in future, sir! Just a point of fact Wark was marking Allan Clarke, I recall Big Al Hunter was reputed to tell Clarke if he tried to rough up Wark again, he would break his f@@king leg.

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jas0999 added 16:33 - Oct 14 Good news, but let's also not forget the £3M + wages saved from the Murphy deal, which needs to be reinvested in full in January.
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grumpyoldman added 16:35 - Oct 14 Gcon what is the positive your lord and master MM said Morris is not ready for the first team, if he had said he was ready that would be positive. As an aside when I typed your name in, auto correct changed it to goon, just saying no, offence meant.
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ScottCandage added 16:35 - Oct 14 Yeah, we know Mick, 10 minutes in the last match.
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linhdi added 17:28 - Oct 14 Wark had to wait 2 years after making his debut, due to an injury crisis, to become a regular. He played 2 whole seasons ar reserve level before he hit double figures of first team appearances.
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Ipswichbusiness added 18:46 - Oct 14 I don't know if Morris is ready or not as I've never seen him. However, aren't Bishop/Dozzell better than Douglas? Hasn't Emmanuel done enough to earn a run at right-back?
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mutters added 20:18 - Oct 14 Thing is there are lots of calls for these guys to be given a go, however they will be ripped to bits by the same people if they don't perform. Seen it too many times in this country over the years, we don't protect our youngsters, we build them up so much and before they've even had a chance to settle the complaints begin when they don't reach their predefined lofty status. I'd trust Mick on this one, he'll know when the time is right for them to get their chance.

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