Academy striker Ben Morris turns 17 today and TWTD understands he is set to put pen to paper on his first professional deal.
Colchester-born Morris, who will be a second-year scholar during the season ahead, will sign a two-year contract as his England U17s team-mates Andre Dozzell and Nick Hayes did when they celebrated their 17th birthdays earlier in the year.
Capped 10 times by England at U17 level, Morris, pictured above at training last week with David McGoldrick, Dean Gerken and Jonathan Douglas, scored his first and so far only international goal in the 2-0 European Championships victory over France in Azerbaijan in the summer.
Speaking in May, manager Mick McCarthy said Morris is currently a little way off a first-team debut. "Ben Morris trains with us on the odd occasion and does really well,” he said.
"But he’s not Murph, he’s not Freddie, he’s not Didz, he’s not Pits, he’s not at that level, but we do think he’ll get there. He’s a good player. Whenever he trains with us, he trains well.”