Blues boss Mick McCarthy is delighted central defender Josh Yorwerth has gone out on loan to Crawley Town and is getting the chance to play some meaningful games, believing that the Welshman is beyond U21s football.
"Delighted,” McCarthy said when quizzed on the 28-day move which saw the former Cardiff trainee make his debut in a 3-0 win back in Wales against Newport County on Tuesday. On Saturday the Red Devils, who are now fourth bottom, lost 2-1 away against leaders Plymouth.
"They were second bottom of League Two so as a defender you think he’s going get a bit of work, but he had a great result there at Newport.
"It’s a good move for him and I’m delighted that he can go out and play some meaningful football.
"He’s beyond the U21s, he’s better than that, he’s been a star in that, a real man and a good competitor. That’s the next level for him and playing week in, week, out.”
While he says he’s able influence whether managers play loan players in their first games whether they keep their places is down to their form.
"The first game I can certainly, but then if they’re hopeless, whoever else goes and he doesn’t play well, I can’t pick his team and I wouldn’t dream of doing it,” he added.
"But when we’re doing that as managers we’ve looked at them and thought the player concerned can cope with what we want.
"We took Ainsley Maitland-Niles as a 17-year-old and nobody knew who he was when he tipped up here.
"I’d seen him play, we’ve seen him play as a club, the coaches, and you think that he can play and start, there’s no question. But then if he plays badly and he’s not up to it, we’d leave him out, just like they would with Josh.
"But you kind of feel that that’s not ever going to happen [with Maitland-Niles], and it won’t happen with Josh either, he’s a very competent player, and certainly at that level he is.”
McCarthy is confident that Yorwerth, who joined Town in the summer following a trial having been released by Cardiff, is capable of being a Championship player, and in the short term.
"Yes, and I don’t think he’ll need a season or two to find his feet, I think he will,” he insisted.
"He’s improved since he came here. He’s got all the tools to be a good defender, Josh. He’s quick, he’s aggressive, he wants to head it, he can head it, he can play. That was maybe his downfall a bit when he came here - be a defender first and foremost.
"And that’s what he’s done and that’s why league managers wanted him on loan. I’m really pleased with him.”
He says loan spells can be a test of character for players who may be asked to play differently.
"He should still have the same values and same work ethic and play the same way,” McCarthy continued. "The manager might ask him to fan out and play a bit more football but the defensive role he’s had and how we’re saying he should be doing it, he should stick to that.
"And they’re not making money, it probably costs them money to stay and to travel, but he was so determined and wanted to go out and play, which was great. There was no question, it was just ‘Where do I sign, let me get playing’.”
Yorwerth will miss Crawley’s game at home to Leyton Orient on Saturday - the Football League turned down the Red Devils’ request to have the game postponed due to international calls - as he and Blues keeper Michael Crowe will be with the Wales U21 squad for their Euro 2017 qualifier against Denmark in Aalborg on Friday.
With Matt Clarke impressing on loan at Portsmouth - Pompey drew 0-0 at home to Yeovil on Saturday and are now fourth in League Two – and full-backs Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock also making progress, McCarthy has seen a young back four emerge in the opening weeks of this season.
"That’s really pleasing, and three of the coming through the academy is terrific,” the Town boss enthused. "Josh Emmanuel is really doing well, I thought he was excellent at Old Trafford. He’s just got more experienced players in front of him.
"Myles Kenlock, he keeps playing in the U21s, he’s doing well and Clarkey, Mark Kennedy watched him on Tuesday night and said he was excellent.”
The Blues boss says he could look to send more of his youngsters out on loan: "Possibly, if somebody is looking for them, yes. I’m not going to be touting them around but I think if somebody is looking for them they’d get a bit of quality.”