Boss Roy Keane says midfielder Ed Upson needs to “get a move on” if he is to win an extension to his contract which is up in the summer. Upson, who until recently has been sidelined with glandular fever, netted the penalty which won last week’s reserves derby against Norwich, but failed to impress his watching manager.
Keane says that 20-year-old Upson, scorer of the winning goal in the 2005 FA Youth Cup final when just 15, has a lot to do to extend his Town stay: "Ed was poor. Just because you score a penalty doesn’t mean you’ve played well.
"He needs to get a move on with his fitness because his contract’s up in three or four months. He did a bleep test yesterday and his score wasn’t the best, but we’ll see. It’s up to the player.”
Upson was given a one-year contract by Keane last summer, having previously been told he would be released by former boss Jim Magilton.
The Bury St Edmunds-born youngster has made two senior appearances, both in the Carling Cup earlier in the season, the second against tonight’s opponents Peterborough.
Keane was also unimpressed with new signing Devann Yao’s first public display in a Town shirt during last week’s match at Carrow Road: "He didn’t play well in the game. He was poor, but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt as it was his first game as he’s still getting up to speed in terms of his fitness levels.”
Yao, 19, recently signed a deal until the end of the season, having impressed in a trial before Christmas.