Boss Mick McCarthy believes all clubs receive a boost when young players such as Blues pair Teddy Bishop and Tyrone Mings break through into the first team.
Bishop, 18, and Mings, 21, have become regular members of the Town side this season with Premier League clubs keeping tabs on them both.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed his interest in left-back Mings, although yesterday dismissed claims he is set to make a move in January. McCarthy has repeatedly stated his determination to keep his promotion-pushing squad together beyond the transfer window.
"It’s brilliant when you get a couple of good young ‘uns in,” he said. "I think it gives everybody a bit of a kick, a bit of a thrill, especially if they’ve come out of the academy like Teddy has.
"Ty, we signed him from elsewhere, but it’s still nice when you’ve got good young players.
"The academy does appeal to everybody. Any club that gets them through, it’s a big thing.”
Another academy player who might have made an impact this season was right-back Kyle Hammond, who featured for the senior side during pre-season ahead of 2013/14.
The 19-year-old spent time on the sidelines due to a knee injury early last season, then in March suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury to the other knee which has seen him miss the first half of this campaign.
But McCarthy says the former Westbourne High School pupil, who signed a one-year professional contract with an option for a further season in May, is making progress.
"Kyle’s coming back, he’s on his rehab,” the Town boss said. "Great kid, Kyle. End of January, I think. He’s back running, hopefully he’ll get himself right so he can play some games before the season finishes.
"The injury was a big blow for him but we’ve looked after him and we’ll continue to look after him and get him back fit and see what happens.”
The Blues boss was at Colchester last Thursday to see the U18s beat the U’s 4-2 on penalties in the FA Youth Cup after a 0-0 draw after extra-time.
"It was nice to see them progress after a really difficult, gruelling evening for them,” he added. "Colchester set up, rightly or wrongly, to make it hard for our guys to play against and it posed them a problem.
"I don’t think they’ve ever had to work that out. And I have to say Colchester played well on the break and had a couple of chances.
"But it was lovely to see them get through and now they’ve got the reward of playing at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.”
He says those players still have a fair way to go before they come into consideration for the first-team squad
"They’re not ready,” McCarthy continued. "They’re all progressing at where they are but if you look at my team, Tyrone Mings is a young one and Bish is in there, but Bish had his time in the youths, he’s different class, but Christophe Berra, Tommy Smith, Chambo, Hunty, Skusey, Murph, Didz, Ando, Tabby, they’re all of a good age.
"Let me tell you, if they are [ready] then they’ll get the opportunity, but they’re not ready for that yet.”
The fourth round tie away at Sunderland will be played on Tuesday 13th January (KO 7pm).