Skipper Jon Walters says Connor Wickham needs to keep working if he is to make the most of his talent and reach the top of the game. Wickham signed a two-year professional contract with the Blues on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Blues captain said: "Connor’s a very good player. He’s young and hungry. Now he’s got to work his socks off and learn from the coaches and other players.
"Good things will happen if he does that and we’ll all do our best to help him develop his career.
"We’ve seen other players of his age being billed as the next big thing but then it peters out for them because they think they’ve made it.
"But if he keeps working hard hopefully he’ll get his rewards and the best players are the ones who always want to keep learning.
"This season has been a learning curve for him but he’s always made an impact when he’s come on, which is good.
"Keep a level head and don’t be distracted by things outside of football. Connor’s got a level head, though, and he’s certainly got good people around him.”
Walters says Town’s second goal against Reading was definitely his despite catching Royals defender Zurab Khizanishvili on its way into the net: "I got a touch and it was heading towards goal. Then their lad got another touch but there’s no chance of anyone taking it off me. I’m claiming it.”
Meanwhile, boss Roy Keane says he’s already looking ahead to 2010/11 and couldn’t get his mind off his plans during a spell away with his family last week: "Thinking ahead to next season always goes on.
"That went on at four o'clock this morning in my head. I was in Spain earlier in the week for a couple of days and I might as well have taken the players away with me because that's all you think about. There is no switching off. The team lives with you."
One player linked with the Blues over the weekend was Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley, who looks likely to leave the Stadium of Light in the summer with his opportunities largely having been limited to sub appearances under Steve Bruce’s management.
Right-back Bardsley is a former Manchester United team-mate of Keane’s with the Blues boss signing him from his old club when he was manager of the Black Cats.
The 24-year-old was previously linked with the Blues last July and is also said to be interesting Bolton and Burnley.