Town boss Mick McCarthy says Town have a “real core of good young players” at the club having added four 21-year-olds to the academy’s numerous talented prospects over the summer.
Centre-halves Adam Webster and Paul Digby, signed earlier in the summer from Portsmouth and today’s opponents Barnsley, were this week joined at Portman Road by widemen Grant Ward, recruited for an initial £500,000 from Spurs, and Conor Grant, who moved on loan from Everton.
McCarthy believes it’s part of his job to put the foundations for the club’s future in place.
"I do think that’s part of my role,” he said. "It’s easy to lump a team in with all senior players, older players, but I think at the club there is a real core of good young players.
"If you look at Adam Webster, Grant Ward, Bish, Doz, Adam McDonnell, Diggers and Josh, Myles Kenlock, James Blanchfield’s come in and he’s done well when he’s played, and even below that, Tristan Nydam, Flynn Downes, Ben Morris.
"I think we have to try and get them through because we’re not going to go and spend £10 million on somebody.”