Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll be surprised if 17-year-old loan winger Ainsley Maitland-Niles doesn’t end up being an outstanding player for parent club Arsenal. Maitland-Niles is with the Blues for the duration of the season.
"He is an outstanding player," McCarthy said. "If he doesn’t end up being outstanding for Arsenal I’ll be very surprised.
"Thanks to Arsene for lending him to us and he’s doing us a right turn at the minute."
He believes that the England U17 and U18 international is destined for the top and that Town fans should enjoy watching him while he’s at the club.
"Absolutely,” he added. "He looks like a slight lad but he gets about, puts his foot in, does all the jobs that wingers don’t traditionally do - tracking back with the full-back, putting his foot in.
"But he’s got real quality, and he’s a lovely kid, he really is, smashing. It’s lovely to have him. We’re blessed that we’ve got him.”