Blues boss Mick McCarthy believes a number of good, young players are emerging from the club's Playford Road academy and establishing themselves in the senior squad. While Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock have featured in recent weeks, the Town manager says the likes of Kundai Benyu, Andre Dozzell and Tristan Nydam are all also making progress.
At the recent Supporters Club AGM McCarthy was asked a question about the number of first-team starts made by academy graduates with the figure having come down season on season since he took over as boss, although the long-term injuries suffered by Teddy Bishop, Luke Hyam and Tommy Smith have impacted upon those totals in the last couple of years.
The Blues look set to fall short of their target of 50 per cent of the first-team squad having come through the academy by the start of next season - the current figure is 31 per cent - which remains their aim, but McCarthy believes there is a promising crop of youngsters now breaking into the first-team picture.
"I think we’re getting to a point where we’re getting good players that are coming through,” he said.
"Myles Kenlock can play in the first team but unfortunately he’s got Jonas [Knudsen] in front of him. Josh can play there, there’s no doubt about that.
"I think Kundai now, he is a different kid, he’s pushing for a place in the squad. We’ve got Bish, certainly Dozzer.
"It’s just looking like we’re getting a few more players who are coming through and can play but can play and sustain that, not just have a game and then we don’t see them ever again.
"That’s been proven with Josh and with Myles, with Dozzer, certainly with Bish, and it would be lovely if we could get those homegrown players coming through.
"I don’t keep them out of the team because I don’t want them to play, I pick the best team that’s available to me.”
Midfielder Tristan Nydam became the latest academy youngster to sign a professional deal earlier this month when he turned 17.
"Tristan’s going to be a good player and I think they’re all improving with the strength and conditioning that they do with Lids [fitness coach Andy Liddell],” McCarthy added.
"I think we’ll know [when they’re ready], I’m not sure everybody accepts how tough this league is to play in but it is a very, very tough league and you’ve got to be robust and durable and they’re all getting there.
"Doz came back [from England U18s duty] and has trained with us, as has Kundai, and they don’t look out of place, they’re doing great.”
Having scored on his debut as a sub at Sheffield Wednesday last season and then made his first start against Fulham a few days later, Dozzell's only appearance this season was in the EFL Cup tie at home to Stevenage.
However, having impressed in the U23s in recent weeks, the 17-year-old may well in be in McCarthy's thoughts if he is looking to make changes to his midfield for Saturday's home game against QPR.