Boss Mick McCarthy says the next stage in striker Jack Marriott’s development could be to go out on loan to a Football League club. The 19-year-old, who signed a new 18-month contract last week, is currently enjoying a hugely successful spell with Skrill Premier Woking.
McCarthy watched Marriott in action for the Cards as they beat Kidderminster Harriers 1-0 last Tuesday, although says it was by no means a classic: "He’s doing what he was sent out to do, which is to get games and score goals.
"It was a poor game on Tuesday night, but they won, Woking got the result that they needed and Jack’s helping them get out of the bottom three and climb up the league. He’s doing well.”
Marriott is due to remain at the Kingfield Stadium until January 2nd when McCarthy says he could move on to a club at a higher level: "They know that at Woking, although I’m happy for him to stay, albeit with a 24-hour recall if we need him.
"If a league club came in for him, you don’t want to stop progress. If you can get him higher and higher and playing against better players, that will be better for him and better for us.”
Speaking to TWTD ahead of last week's FA Youth Cup defeat to Sunderland, right-back Kyle Hammond said he would be interested in following a similar path to Marriott and McCarthy says that could happen.
"All those players at that level, if they could go out on loan [I’d like them to]," he said. "Kyle’s only just come back from a cruciate ligament injury which kept him out for eight weeks.
"I thought the energy he showed and how well he played in the Youth Cup match was remarkable considering he’s only been back for a few weeks.
"He’s trained with [the first team]. I would let him out if the right deal comes in for him, but somebody’s got to watch him and fancy him and want to take him.”
Midfielder Byron Lawrence was the only member of the U18 side which lost on penalties to the Black Cats to have played in the first team and the Town boss says the 18-year-old, who impressed him against the Wearsiders, is regularly involved with the senior squad.
"On and off, if I need them to train, if I need 20, Byron still trains with us occasionally, as do some of the others.
"I thought he was excellent in the Youth Cup match, Byron. That’s the best I’ve seen him play. He looked like somebody who had had a bit more experience than some of the others. I thought that was one of his better performances, I thought he played well.”
McCarthy says it’s up to youngsters to progress to senior level: "Bryan Klug made the point to them all after the Youth Cup game that they had all played at Portman Road, they all enjoyed it. I think they found it a big old pitch.
"And if they want to play [there regularly], it’s in their hands. They tend to think it’s in our hands, but it’s not, it’s in their hands and feet.
"They’re the ones who determine whether they’re going to be footballers or not with our help and guidance and coaching and management.
"And they did well, I thought they were certainly equal to Sunderland, who are category one and have spent a lot of money on their academy.”