Town boss Mick McCarthy says 16-year-old Andre Dozzell loved his first week as a senior player. The first-year scholar, the son of former Blue and current academy coach Jason, scored after coming on as a sub at Sheffield Wednesday before making his first start against Fulham last Tuesday, both games ending in 1-1 draws. He was an unused sub at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
"He’s all right,” McCarthy said reflecting on the midfielder’s big week. "It’s one of those things. I don’t go around and ask them, ‘How do you feel after your first week, you OK? Everything all right?’.
"He’s buzzing, isn’t he? He’s loved his first week, certainly scoring on his debut. He probably enjoyed that more than his full debut.”
McCarthy says Dozzell is a good character off and on the field: "You get to see them walking around the building and chat to them. He’s a lovely young man, very personable, has a smile on his face, a talented footballer.
"Quite clearly if he comes in and makes his debut at Hillsborough then he’s got something about him.
"But he’s got more than just that, he’s got a bit of spirit about him, he’s got a bit of ‘nuts’ about him, the fact that he can go in and score on his debut and actually not look out of place whenever he got the ball and whenever he competed. So his football personality on the pitch is good, I’m pleased with him.”
England U17 international Dozzell will formalise a previously agreed two-year professional deal when he turns 17 on May 2nd.