Town boss Mick McCarthy believes loanee Tom Lawrence is ready to play in the Premier League next season after a successful season in the Championship with the Blues.

The 23-year-old Wales international, named the club’s Players’ Player of the Year on Tuesday, has made 34 starts and two sub appearances during his spell with the Blues, scoring 11 times. McCarthy has confirmed he has played his last game for Town as he will miss Sunday’s match at Forest with an ankle problem.

“I don’t see why not, he’s been excellent for us,” McCarthy said when asked whether Lawrence is ready to make the step up to the top flight after spending most of the last three seasons on loan in the Championship with Yeovil, Rotherham, Blackburn and Cardiff prior to the Blues.

“That doesn’t make him a Premier League player but he’s stood out in this league against a lot of teams.

“He’s scored some very good goals against some of the stronger teams in the league as well.

“There was one stage when he was keeping our heads above water with his goals and his performances.

“Yes, I think he could, in my opinion. I hope he gets that chance, whether that’s at Leicester or somewhere else.”

So far Lawrence’s only Premier League experience has been three sub appearances for Leicester at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, having joined the Foxes from Manchester United the previous summer, and one start for the Red Devils on the final day of the previous campaign.

Photo: TWTD

hoppy added 15:32 - May 5 I still don't think it's absolutely definite that we've seen the last of him in a Town shirt... stranger things have happened.
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Bluebell added 16:14 - May 5 Hoppy. I think you are deluded. A nice thought but I have a feeling that either Leicester will want him back, with a new manager, or he will go to a club who can pay his wages. There is no way we can match what he is being paid at the moment unfortunately.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 16:18 - May 5 Speaking to my bro who is a Leicester fan, he's pretty convinced Tom won't get into their team at the moment, though it does heavily depend upon who they might lose in the summer, of course. I have a sneaking suspicion he's going to end up getting loaned out again, but this time somewhere like Bournemouth, or even one of the newly promoted Championship sides.
4

strikalite added 16:33 - May 5 Could see him going to say Burnley, failing a lower Prem Club then the obvious next move would be Derby or even the budgies I hate to say... He won't want to be wasting his prime footballing years playing in a dispirited team with no ambition like he has been this season though, I'm sure of that...........sadly :(
1

therein61 added 16:51 - May 5 Good luck Tom and thanks for your goals this season have a successful career wherever that may be
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Len_Brennan added 17:54 - May 5 His performances won't have gone unnoticed particularly at Brighton, Newcastle and whoever goes up through the playoffs. Sheffield Wednesday would certainly need to bring some youth into their attack and are a big enough club who seem prepared to pay good wages. Whatever happens, we won't be paying a fee a £8m and wages of 25k a week in order to sign him, but some clubs in the Prem will be prepared to. Good luck to him.

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cat added 21:24 - May 5 Lawrence ready for the prem, "and that's all down to me" said our rather self loving and admiring DINO, give yourself a big pat on the tail, you furkin tw@
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