Town boss Mick McCarthy says there’s “a good nucleus” of young players coming through at Portman Road with the likes of Paul Digby and Andre Dozzell having featured in the first team in recent weeks and Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock set to start in this afternoon’s final home game of the season against the MK Dons.
McCarthy says he was pleased with on-loan Barnsley man Digby’s first league start for the Blues at Middlesbrough last week.
"He could [be a Championship player of the future], I thought he did well,” the Town boss said. "We’ve just been out having a look at some things with him.
"He was playing against one of the better strike forces and certainly in Jordan Rhodes, his movement really causes defenders problems.
"And it did a bit with Diggers, to be fair, but I thought he stuck at it and for a debut I thought he was excellent.
"He’s definitely one for the future. We’ve got an agreement with Barnsley and we’re hoping we can sign him on.”
Like Matt Clarke, who has spent the season on loan in League Two with Portsmouth, Digby played much of his football as a youngster in midfield and McCarthy would be happy with ball-playing central defenders in his team.
"I would like to see that, but not the cost of it ending up in the back of our net,” he added.
"There’s a thin dividing line with that - you get frustrated when we don’t do it but it’s even more frustrating when you’re trying it and it ends up in the net.
"There’s a time and a place and both Matt Clarke and Diggers, they’ve played in midfield and they can both handle the ball, so we’ll see. But they’ve got to get in the team. They’ve got to be better than the others.”
Regarding Emmanuel and Kenlock, who will start at right-back and left-back respectively this afternoon, he said: "I look at those two certainly and think both of them can cope with the Championship physically.
"I think they’ve got a bit to do technically to be there, but they’re babies really. And they’ve got to get in the team.
"And once they get in a first team and continue to learn on the job, doing it where they’ll make mistakes but they’ll continue to learn playing against better players, I’m hoping they can do that.
"I’m hoping Paul Digby can be one of those too, I’m hoping Matt Clarke can be one of those. He’s been back in as he’s had a bit of a sore groin and he’s a monster at the minute, walking around with a pair of shoulders on him as wide as that door and he’s a good footballer.
"Then there’s Bish and Adam McDonnell’s in the squad for Saturday, younger players, Doz, who’s gone off with the England U17s now.
"There is a good nucleus. Whether they’ll all come through and be good players on a regular basis, I don’t know. Let’s hope so.”
Regarding Dozzell, who joined up with the England U17s on Wednesday ahead of the European Championships in Azerbaijan, he added: "I didn’t put any obstacles in his way there. I think that’s a nice achievement for him.
"He’s had his taste of first-team football and we need Bish to be coming back playing and Adam’s around, he might get a bit of a game in the next two. We’ve seen Dozzer and we know he’s going cope with that.”
Meanwhile, moving on to one of his more senior players, McCarthy says he's happy with David McGoldrick's progress as he continues his comeback from his hamstring injury: "I was delighted with him on Saturday [at Middlesbrough]. I’m really pleased with him.
"He had 90 minutes on Saturday and he looked like he was taking a breather for a while. I shouted on, ‘Are you OK?’ as the last thing I wanted to do was get him injured. Of course, he wants to play every minute and said he was OK and I thought he got stronger.
"He’s trained brilliantly this week, he looks great. I’m really pleased and thrilled for him. I hope he plays in the European Championships because he can play at that level.
"He’s got the ability, he’s got the technique, he’s quick enough and strong enough, he’s got the ability in his feet and his head.”