Town boss Paul Lambert believes midfielder Flynn Downes, who signed a new contract last week, is a “big talent” who has the “potential to be a really, really good player”.
The 20-year-old from Brentwood put pen to paper on a contract which runs to 2022 on Friday with the club having an option for a further year on top of that.
"He’s got potential to be a really, really good player, Flynn,” Lambert said of the academy product, "and I’ve always said that of him.
"He’s a big talent for the club and he’s played a lot of games now, and I just think it’s important for the club to tie him down as well as a few of the other young ones, there’s too many good young ones here to just walk out your door for more or less nothing really.
"These kids can be a hell of an asset to the club, and if they eventually go and make the height of it, you make sure you get a hell of a lot of money for them rather than what’s been happening before.”
Downes is yet to score a senior goal, either for the Blues or Luton where he was on loan during the second half of last season. Does he need to add goals to his game?
"It depends if he’s a sitter of an attacking midfielder,” Lambert considered. "I know he’s done both, he’s played defensive midfield for England [U19s and U20s], he’s done it when he’s been growing up here as well.
"We’ve played him in an advanced role, but he’s a really good footballer. One thing about Flynn is he’s not frightened, that’s for sure, he gets right in about it which is great and he’s really good footballer. It’s not as if the kid is just a physical player, he can play the game.”
Where does Lambert see Downes playing long-term, in a defensive or attacking role? "I don’t know yet until I see him in the defensive side of it. I need to have a little look at it, and maybe we’ll have a look at him to see if he can play that role because we’ve only really got Cole Skuse who can play that role.
"Emyr Huws might be able to do it, but I don’t know how fit he’s going to be, Trevoh Chalobah’s done it, but he’s not our player so it might be an option to have a look at.”
Downes is one of a number of young midfielders in and around the first team having come through the academy at present, along with Teddy Bishop, Andre Dozzell, Tristan Nydam and Idris El Mizouni. Does Lambert believe they can play together in the Blues’ midfield? next season?
"They have to because that’s the way the club is going to go,” he added. "It’s helluva exciting for them to play and they’re playing ever so well at the minute.
"But they need a little bit of help. Can they do it over 46 games? Nobody knows. But, one thing’s for sure, I know there’s a really good talented group in there.”