Striker Freddie Sears says the whole Town squad are “buzzing” for Andre Dozzell after the 16-year-old netted on his debut as the Blues drew 1-1 at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. The result all but mathematically ended any remaining hopes Town had of making the play-offs.
"We’re all buzzing for him, when you see a kid on his debut come in and do so well, and he’s got the equaliser, which is nice,” the 26-year-old said.
"We know how good Dozzer is, he’s been training with us for the last three or four weeks and he’s got real ability.
"He’s only 16, so if he didn’t have the ability then he wouldn’t be training with us, that’s for sure. He came on and it didn’t really phase him, and he’s ended up getting on the end of a good cross.
"It’s pretty easy [for him to get on with the first-team players] because we have a good dressing room here, he’s a good lad Dozzer so it’s quite easy for him. Now he has to keep working hard and keep his feet grounded, which I’m sure he will.”
Sears, , knows something of what Dozzell junior has experienced over the weekend having scored on his West Ham debut aged 18 in a 2-1 Premier League victory over Blackburn Rovers in March 2008.
"I’ve had this same sort of feeling which is obviously a great one,” he recalled. "It’s probably a bit surreal for him right now because he’s just scored for Ipswich Town in the Championship.
"It will sink in a bit later and I’m sure he will have loads of messages and things like that, but everyone’s delighted for him.
"He’s really looked good in the last three or four weeks and he’s got a chance today. Fair play to the gaffer. You never forget it, the first goal, and even a debut, you never forget your debut.
"For me it was a bonus, scoring on my debut, and it’s the same for Dozzer. He’ll be buzzing and everyone’s buzzing for him.
He added: "It’s going to be hard for him, he’s not guaranteed to play every week because there have been a few players missing, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders. His old man has been there and done it too, which should help.
"We’ve got a couple more games between now and the end of the season, hopefully he’ll get a run out.
"It’s down to the manager at the end of the day, he’s come on today and done well so I don’t see why he won’t be involved, but you don’t know in football. He’s had a taste of it and I’m sure he’s going to want more.”
Reflecting on the 1-1 draw with the Owls which effectively ended Town’s season - they’re eighth, eight points off sixth-placed Wednesday with an inferior goal difference with only four to play - Sears added: "We wanted the three points but it’s a positive performance and probably a positive point. We could have come here and got beaten but we’ll have to take the point in the end.
"I think we needed to win to put a bit more pressure on them but, saying that, you never know in football and you have to play to the end.
"We still have four games to go and if we can pick up maximum points then you never know. It looks slim but we’ll keep going to the end.”