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McCarthy: Young Strikers Could Get Their Chance - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy has reiterated that young strikers Ben Morris and Aaron Drinan could be involved in the first team during the latter stages of the season.

Morris, 18, came through the academy and made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup match at Crystal Palace in August, while 19-year-old Drinan officially joined the Blues from Waterford in January having been training with the club since October.

"They’re doing all right,” McCarthy said. "There’s an U23s game [at Cardiff] on Thursday and they’ll probably both be involved in that, but as we get towards the back end of the season, and we’re getting there I know, then I’d like to be giving them a game and I hope that’s the case.

"Actually, I tell you what, I hope it isn’t the case, I’d hope we’re one point behind the play-offs with about five games to play, that would be nice, and we’d be playing the team that’s Joe, Waggy, Santie, Muzzy and all those boys. But if not then I hope to give them a game.”

He says Drinan, who made four senior starts and one sub appearance for Waterford, scoring once, as they won the League of Ireland First Division prior to his move to Portman Road, is perhaps a little ahead of Morris as things stand.

"Possibly, he impressed everybody since he’s come in,” he added. "It’s like anything, you come in and you’re training full-time and then suddenly it’s tough for them.

"Ben looked really sharp and then he took a dip. He’s come back looking really sharp, just these last couple of months, two or three months. They’re both doing all right.”

Drinan and Morris were both on target in last Monday’s 3-2 U23s victory over West Brom in the Premier League Cup, a performance which impressed the Blues boss: "I thought we played well in that.”

The afternoon didn’t go so well for two of McCarthy’s other January signings, Barry Cotter and Chris Goteni, who were the centre-halves against the Baggies.

"Barry did his hamstring, so he’s not going anywhere soon,” the Town boss added. "Chris Goteni got sent off, so they were great the pair of them, they did really well!”

Also involved in that match were trialists Ben Stephens, a 20-year-old striker with Stratford Town, and Mohammed Sagaf, also 20, an attacking midfielder who has been given an extended spell to impress the Blues management having caught the eye while playing for Walsham Forest.

McCarthy says he is continuing to monitor their progress: "Just keeping an eye on them. There’s no decision made on them. They did OK.”

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