Boss Roy Keane says new signing Devann Yao and members of Town's U18 side are in with a chance of first team football this season. The American trialist finally signed a contract until the end of the season earlier in the week.
Keane says winger Yao could get his opportunity and hints that one or two members of the U18 team may join Connor Wickham in the first team set-up before too long: "That’s the plan for every player at the football club ultimately. Whether it be the kids the other night. Young Connor’s had a sniff of it, maybe Luke [Hyam] (pictured) could have a chance, young Tom [Eastman].
"Ultimately when you’re at the football club it’s to try and play in the first team and that’s why we’ve taken a chance on Devann. But it’s always up to the player. We like him. We like what we see.”
Yao, who is still recovering from the bad cut to the calf he received before Christmas, is likely to play his first public game in a Town shirt on Wednesday afternoon when the reserves travel to Norwich.
Ipswich-born midfielder Hyam, 18, was included on the bench when the Blues played Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup in August, while central defender Tom Eastman, from Colchester, also 18, has received rave reviews this season for his composed displays in the U18s and reserves.