Roy Keane says Northern Irish U17 international midfielder Josh Carson could be involved in today’s Carling Cup tie at Millwall. Second-year academy scholar Carson was named amongst the subs for the first round match at Exeter earlier in the season but is yet to make his debut
Keane says the 17-year-old, who weekend reports claimed is being eyed by Sunderland, could make the trip to the Den: "He’s doing very well for us and you may see him at Millwall. He’s a good player, but he’s a young kid learning his trade. Speculation that clubs are watching him is just speculation.
"He’s doing very well. He did well again on Saturday with the U18s [scoring twice in the 4-3 win against Reading]. I spoke to Mike Pejic after the game and he’s doing well.
"He’s got a chance, but all the young kids have got a chance. It’s not up to me or you, it’s up to them themselves. We give them the platform, we give them the training but we’re not there to hold their hands, it’s up to the boys themselves.”
Keane confirmed that US U20 keeper Cody Cropper is fine despite being knocked unconscious during the U18s game.
The Blues boss says midfielder Conor Hourihane, who was signed from Sunderland in the summer, is unlikely to make his debut at Millwall, having failed to impress in the reserves so far: "I’m not just going to give lads a game for the sake of it because they did well six months ago or they’ve got an U21 cap.
"Tom Eastman got his opportunity and other players have got their opportunity when I’ve seen them in the reserves or in training and have thought they’ve deserved their chance.
"They’ve got to earn it. I’m not going to give lads a game at Millwall because we think they fancy a day out in London, they’ve got to do well.
"That’s why I go and watch most of the reserve games, it’s important. I thought Tom Eastman did OK the other night [at Colchester], I think Reggie’s done OK. Reggie was one of the best of a bad bunch in the reserves the other night.”