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Yorwerth Thankful for First-Team Chance - Ipswich Town News

Josh Yorwerth is just one of a crop of young players to have been given a taste of first-team football with Town this season and who are hungry for more.

Academy graduates Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock are others for whom this is a breakthrough season as they take the first steps on what they all hope will be a long career at the club.

All three are in line for places in Mick McCarthy’s line-up for tonight’s Capital One Cup second round visit to Doncaster and Yorweth, 20, said: "We’re all good footballers, the lads coming through, and the manager can see it. I’m just thankful that he has given us an opportunity to show it.

"But I’m sure I speak for the other guys when I say how helpful the senior lads have been.

"The togetherness within the first team squad is brilliant and the lads like Luke Chambers and Cole Skuse make you feel very welcome, which helps a lot.

"When I made my debut against Stevenage they helped me a lot because they were both talking to me a lot.

"I got through to half-time and in the dressing room I had a bit of a roasting from a few of the players for my defending, which was right.

"It was up to me to go out in the second half and basically get back on my game, which was exactly what I did. I just took it as part and parcel of football.

"If you have a poor first half you’re not expecting to come in and people to be praising you. I think some players need it.

"Some need an arm round their shoulder — we all react differently — but I went out in the second half and did what I know I can do.”

Yorwerth will be one of several Town players with duties to fulfil during the forthcoming international break. He is a member of the Wales U21 squad managed by former Town midfielder Geraint Williams and will be travelling to Luxembourg for a UEFA qualifier on Friday 4th September.

He added: "It’s going to be a good game and I’m looking forward to it. We played against Bulgaria back in March and beat them 3-1 in Cardiff.

"We have a good group of players at the moment and you can see from how well the senior lads are doing that there’s a good feeling around Welsh football right now.

"Who knows what can happen if you are playing really well for your club and performing for Geraint Williams with the U21s? It’s all about working hard and the togetherness within the Welsh squad, the first team and the U21s, is very good.

"This is a big season for me. Last season and the season before, when I was playing U21 football at Cardiff, it was okay but I went to Hereford on loan for five or six games just to try to get some football.

"I went off my own bat. My agent couldn’t find anything for me because it’s difficult to get loan moves for youngsters who haven’t played any football and don’t have any experience.

"I spoke to a few people I know and went up to Hereford. I played right-back a few times and then I went back to Cardiff, where I wasn’t given an opportunity to even train with the first team.

"I was back with the U21s but I turned 20 in February and I felt I needed to be playing some proper competitive football.”

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