x

Yao and Youngsters Could Get Their Chance - Ipswich Town News

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.

What to read next:

Ipswich Town v Wrexham - Predictions
Have you predicted the Wrexham score yet? Ninety per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win today, nine per cent a draw and one per cent for an away win. The most commonly predicted result is a 3-1 win to Town with Philogene the first scorer but what do you think?
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
U21s Win at Leicester
Town’s U21s beat Leicester City 2-0 at their Seagrave Training Ground this evening to claim their first Premier League Cup victory of the season.
Over to Replace Finbow as PLC Chairman
Roger Finbow is set to stand down as the chairman of the Ipswich Town PLC following its AGM at Portman Road on Tuesday 16th December - where chairman and CEO Mark Ashton and chief financial officer Tom Ball will answer shareholders’ questions - with Peter Over set to take over.
Taylor: We've Got Incredible Players, You Don't Know How High the Ceiling Is
Jack Taylor has had an eventful international break, but the midfielder returns to Town determined to go on a run through a busy spell of fixtures between now and the turn of the year.
McKenna: The Challenge is to Recapture the Energy From Swansea Against Wrexham
Town boss Kieran McKenna says it’s important his team start their run of seven games in 22 days positively when Wrexham visit Portman Road for the first time in their history on Saturday.
McKenna: O'Shea Has Fantastic Qualities as a Defender and is an Outstanding Leader
Blues boss Kieran McKenna has praised Dara O’Shea both for his captaincy and his role at the heart of the defence.
McKenna: It's Going to Be All Hands on Deck
Saturday’s home game against Wrexham is the first of seven matches in 22 days for the Blues, a run which manager Kieran McKenna says will require all hands on deck for the next few weeks.
McKenna: It Will Be Good to See Them Both
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says he’s looking forward to being reunited former Town pair Nathan Broadhead and Kieffer Moore when their Wrexham side visit at the weekend but hopes he doesn’t see the best of them on the pitch.
McKenna Happy International Players Had Brilliant Experiences
Town boss Kieran McKenna says the players who have been away on international duty have unsurprisingly come back in a positive mood given the results some of their sides have achieved.