Blues boss Kieran McKenna says striker Ali Al-Hamadi will have earned the trust put in him if he makes his first Blues start in Saturday’s East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

The Iraqi international could be handed his full Town debut should Kieffer Moore not recover from the back injury he suffered in Monday’s 3-2 defeat of Southampton.

Moore, 31, a January loan signing from AFC Bournemouth, is doubtful for Saturday’s trip to Norfolk having suffered a severe back spasm against the Saints.

Al-Hamadi, who joined the Blues from League Two AFC Wimbledon for a fee of just over £1 million, also in January, replaced Moore in the 36th minute on Monday and is his most obvious replacement on Saturday should the Wales international not make it.

The 22-year-old has so far made 11 sub appearances for Town and has scored four times.

“I think he's earned that trust,” McKenna said when asked whether he would be prepared to throw the youngster into a game of such magnitude as the weekend’s derby.

“We have belief in him in terms of the reasons why we brought him to the football club.

“First and foremost, in terms of his potential, I have to say I think he's still got a lot of improvement and growing to do, developing as a football player, but we wouldn't have brought him in in January if we didn't think he could play a part in the team in the last few months of the season. And he certainly has played a part.

“Of course, to start games and play significant minutes is another big step up, but he took one of those step-ups on Monday coming on the early stages of the game and finding the rhythm of the game.

“It wasn't easy to find it until half-time but fighting his way through that period and then really having a big impact on the second half, and he was really unlucky with his chance, it hit the post.

“I think that was a good step forward for him and he's become an important player for us already.”

Al-Hamadi missed Iraq’s internationals due to an adductor problem which will continue to give him problems until he undergoes an operation in the close season.

“I think it's worth knowing that he has an injury that will require surgery in the summer, and I'm not sure many players would be playing with the injury that he has at the moment,” McKenna added.

“But he's an incredibly tough boy and he's making himself available for the team and pushing through not just the barriers of jumping up two levels, but at times is pushing through pain barriers for the team, and we're going to need him to play an important role to the end of the season.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:42 - Apr 4 If he starts, he won't let us down. Great effort and not a little skill.
10

itfcskayman added 17:58 - Apr 4 It’s clear to see that he’s a bit of a rough diamond but the potential is certainly there to see. Very exciting player for us over many years hopefully.
6

KMcBlue added 18:07 - Apr 4 Kuqi-esque
8

IpswichT62OldBoy added 18:26 - Apr 4 The Hammer
1

AlexMathie added 18:35 - Apr 4 Interesting he has an underlying injury that needs surgery. Maybe that’s why he seems to need half a yard of pace at times. Will be a great player if this is the case.
3

DannyITFC added 19:10 - Apr 4 If he starts I hope he takes his big chance and becomes a hero! He’s more than capable of banging a couple in, with the quality players in the team he will flurish… been very impressed with him so far.
2

Saxonblue74 added 19:23 - Apr 4 Doesn't look at all out of his depth. I can see his name in the headlines already!
0

TimmyH added 20:06 - Apr 4 He looks like he has potential but what I've seen so far he looks a tad off the pace other players have set which isn't really surprising, his ball control could be sharper and not as fast as many around him...he had a chance to really shine on Monday but came up a tad short.
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ghostofescobar added 22:30 - Apr 4 It’s clear he has a long, long way to go to be close to the finished article, but he’s got buckets of heart and energy……and he just could write himself into ITFC folklore this coming Saturday. What a story that would be!
3

gosblue added 22:48 - Apr 4 It’ll be interesting to see if he wins more free-kicks than Moore. Referees seem very reluctant to award Keifer even the most obvious of fouls. Even if Moore is fit, I think I’d rest him and start with Ali. Moore has played a lot of hard minutes recently but 20 minutes from the bench could be deadly.
1

Bazza8564 added 00:21 - Apr 5 Personally i really like the lad, he will get better and better as he gets older. Yes his first touch on hold up play can bounce a bit, but his raw strength on the turn and his instincts to be in the right zones are excellent. That said we have to be a bit patient with him, hes a long way from the finished article just yet
3

SussexTractor added 07:48 - Apr 5 He is an investment, has all the right qualities and gives us pace upfront. A different type of player to Moore, less aerial ability and like ball okayed to his feet - with excellent coaching could be great.
0

blues1 added 08:32 - Apr 5 TimmyH . Really? He played really well on monday.
1

virginblue added 09:45 - Apr 5 I do wonder what people watch sometimes. KM band on as usual. It was very thought for Ali when he came on, but he improved hugely after the break. Managed to hold the ball up, link play, and when given the chance drive at the defenders. Lots to enjoy I’m his performance.
0

Linkboy13 added 15:25 - Apr 5 Yes Al Hamadi has shown he has potential he is very dangerous in and around the box but still has a lot of improvement left to do as McKenna stated. In a big game like Norwich Moore would be a massive loss as he's also handy at defending set pieces.
2

TimmyH added 17:18 - Apr 5 Yep! - blues1, what I've seen so far but it's a very early assessment, I was right about Dobra when quite a few were talking him up a few years back... When I said he had a chance to 'really shine' on Monday I was referring to the pivotal attacks on goal which he was involved when he had a chance and another when he should of passed to Taylor but only had tunnel vision.
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