Town boss Paul Lambert believes Flynn Downes is getting better with every passing day, week and month. The 20-year-old was one of the Blues’ star performers in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Burton Albion and was TWTD readers’ Man of the Match.
"I think Flynn Downes is getting better and better. With each passing day, week and month he’s getting better that kid,” Lambert enthused after the game.
"As I said before, when I first saw him, I think he’s got a really big future. He’s a long way from the finished article but he’s certainly got a chance.”
Following his red card for a headbutt in the friendly at Cambridge last week, focus was inevitably on the England U18 and U19 international midfielder’s temperament at the Pirelli Stadium, but despite one or two feisty challenges flying in there was no sign of any untoward reaction.
"I had a chat with him on Friday down in Ipswich and just gave him [the benefit of] my experience,” Lambert said.
"The better player you are, things like that are going to happen to you. Just walk away from it, it’s hard with the emotion of the game, but I’m delighted with his performance because it was really, really mature.”
Lambert wouldn’t be drawn on comparisons with himself during his playing career: "It’s unfair on him, he’s his own player, he’s a really, really good player, he’s got terrific stamina for the game, great endurance, great feet, he’s got everything going for him and I think he’s going to be a really, really good player.
"As I said, he’s maturing every day, every month but to compare him with myself is unfair on him because we’re different players and we play in different eras but what I see with my eye, the kid’s a really, really good player.”
The Town manager believes it’s a big season for the Brentwood-born schemer: "Massive. He’s a hardy kid as well, as everybody knows. He’s got that little bit of devilment that top players need, you can’t curtail it at times, but you’ve got to curtail it in the right way, he’s got one helluva future, that’s for sure.
"I spoke to him yesterday and if he does get kicked you’ve sometimes got to walk away from it and sometimes I know it’s difficult because of the emotion of the game and the way the atmosphere becomes. On Saturday there were some heavy things there and I thought he was excellent.”