Town boss Paul Jewell says he expects 17-year-old Northern Ireland U21 international Josh Carson to be involved in more games towards the end of the season, perhaps as part of an all-teenage strike partnership with Connor Wickham. The England U21 international frontman, who turns 18 today, is yet again linked with a summer move to Tottenham by this morning’s tabloids.
Jewell was pleased with Northern Ireland U21 international Carson’s debut against Scunthorpe and says he’s in his plans for Saturday’s trip to Burnley: "I can see Josh being involved again. The only reason is because it stops everyone talking about Connor Wickham! He’s there as a bit of a decoy.
"He did OK against Scunthorpe. He’s going to be a good player. He’s only a kid but it doesn’t faze him. He’s got that little touch of cockiness about him.
"He’s hungry, he’s got two good feet, he’s strong and he’s been a good bonus for us. We’ve got one or two in the academy that I think are going to be decent players, which is always nice.”
Jewell says that it’s wrong to try to draw parallels between the two youngsters, who are both second-year academy scholars: "Josh is a far better player than Connor Wickham,” he joked. "I think it’s unfair to compare them because one’s 6ft 3, the other’s 5ft 2. They’ve got different strengths.
"Connor’s talked about being a Premier League footballer and Josh has probably come in under the radar a little bit. He’s a different type of player.
"If they both continue to flourish as I think they will, they will both be good players. There are plenty of pitfalls between 18 and 30 but if they can stay clear of them and have a little bit of luck with injuries and stuff, I’m sure they can both go on to good things, hopefully with us.”
Jewell says that Carson’s adaptability is a bonus and that with the Blues short on strikers since Tamás Priskin’s loan exit to Swansea he could use him in a forward role, perhaps alongside Wickham: "He’s versatile. He can play up front off the big man, he can play on the right and he can play in the middle of midfield as an attacking midfield player. He’s got a lot of strings to his bow.
"Technically he’s very good, he’s got two good feet and he wants to win. He doesn’t hold back, he’s a tough little kid and it’s nice to see.”
Carson, who has already won two U21 caps, will be away with the Northern Ireland U19s for two friendlies with Slovakia later this month.
Birthday boy Wickham is again the subject of tabloid speculation this morning with reports that he's close to a move to Spurs with the North Londoners said to be ready to table a £15 million offer. The player himself is claimed to have told friends he’ll be leaving in the summer.
Wickham’s recently signed contract is believed to include a clause which would allow him to leave if a club made a bid at a set level, while the Blues have stated on a number of occasions that the Hereford-born frontman won’t be leaving for anything other than a very large fee.
Speaking yesterday prior to the latest reports, boss Paul Jewell said that he’d very much like Wickham to be here next season: "We’re not actively looking to sell him.”