Boss Mick McCarthy says young midfielder Kundai Benyu having a future at Town is down to him and his “attitude and his approach to football and being here”.
The 18-year-old, pictured above with Andre Dozzell at training on Tuesday, is yet to make his senior Blues debut but was on the first-team bench twice in the Championship during 2014/15 and for the Capital One Cup games against Stevenage and Doncaster last term.
Benyu missed much of 2015/16 with a persistent knee injury before returning to action for Town’s U18s and U21s in the final weeks.
In mid-May Town agreed to allow the former academy scholar to be included in a Tottenham U19s squad which played at the NextGen Series tournament in Amsterdam.
The Camden-born central midfielder, who also qualifies for Zimbabwe, played in two games but the Premier League side are understood not to have pursued their interest further.
Asked whether Benyu will now be staying with Town or moving on elsewhere, McCarthy said: "That’s up to him. I haven’t made him available.
"That’s up to him with his attitude and his approach to football and being here. It’s down to him, he’s got ability."
Benyu, who McCarthy believes needs to show the same application and effort as the other players in his squad, is contracted to Town until next summer.
Meanwhile, former Blues loanee Ben Pringle is expected to join Preston North End from Fulham today.
Pringle spent the final three months of last season with Town making nine starts and one sub appearance, scoring two goals.
On the final day of the campaign McCarthy said the Blues wouldn't be looking to sign the 26-year-old midfielder on a permanent basis.