‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough,’ was Paul Jewell’s message to his young players after 17-year-old Josh Carson’s third goal in a week saw his 10-man Blues to a 1-0 victory at Bristol City on Saturday. Jewell included teenagers Carson and Connor Wickham in his side at Ashton Gate, while left-back Joe Whight — who was offered a two-year professional deal a fortnight ago - was on the bench for the first time.
Jewell said: "If they’re good enough, they can play, it doesn’t matter what team they are playing for — if you’re good enough, you’re old enough, as they say.
"Josh and Connor are big mates and we had another kid who is 17 on the bench on Saturday, Joe Whight, so hopefully the future’s bright.”
Although it was his 30-yard winning strike which made most of the weekend headlines, Jewell said he was also pleased with Carson’s defensive performance: "He’s going to be a good player, Josh Carson.
"He’s bursting on to the scene a little bit, he took my eye in training and he scored a couple of goals in a home game against Crystal Palace and just got on with it and did really well.
"He’s got the confidence to hit it from there. The pleasing thing was that he had to work tirelessly back towards his own goal on numerous occasions as a left-sided player in a 4-4-1. He got back and made some terrific blocks.”
Meanwhile, full-back Carlos Edwards says he’s surprised that the contract situation is still rumbling on and that he hopes his team-mates sign on the dotted line soon: "It’s the core of the team that are out of contract, and we are down the last few games of the season.
"That’s a kick in the face really, not just to the manager, to the players as well, because they want to stay. I don’t know what is the hold up, but I wish them all the best.
"We have to keep the core of the team for next season,” he added. "We need to keep them here.”
Edwards himself will be at Town for at least another year having triggered an appearance clause on his current contract earlier in the season.