Young striker Jack Marriott is enjoying being part of the first team squad and is hoping to make another senior appearance soon. Marriott made a bright first-team debut as a sub at Burnley on the final day of last season.
The 19-year-old told the club site that he feels he has impressed the men who matter in the opening months of the campaign: "The gaffer and TC seem to be pleased with me so that’s good.
"I’ve been on the bench a few times and been involved in the squad and it’s been a great learning curve for me.
"My game has always been about scoring goals but I know I’ve got to work on improving other areas. The gaffer and TC have been doing that in training.”
When Marriott joined the Town youth set-up full-time in the summer of 2011, then-academy recruitment officer Malcolm Moore compared him with former Manchester City and Leicester striker Paul Dickov, while more recently current Blues top scorer David McGoldrick said he saw similarities with a youthful Michael Owen.
Marriott, who scored both goals as the U21s drew 2-2 at Swansea on Monday, says McGoldrick and the club’s other senior strikers are helping him in training.
"Didsy and Murph have been great with me as well and are always giving me bits of advice,” he added. "I have taken what they have said on board.
"I’ve just got to keep working hard and wait for my chance. I was warming up the whole of the second half against Bolton, eager to get on and trying to catch the gaffer’s eye. Hopefully, if I’m called upon, I can do a job for the team.”
Manager McCarthy has said he would be interested in letting Marriott out on loan if a club was to show interest.