Boss Jim Magilton says he will give some of the youngsters a chance in the first team before the end of the season. The likes of Jai Reason, Ed Upson, Tommy Smith, Jordan Rhodes and Ian Miller could all make their debuts in the remaining seven games of 2006/07.

Magilton has long had Smith pencilled in for a first team appearance before the end of the season, while he was close to fielding midfielder Reason in the Carling Cup tie at Peterborough in August.

The Town manager told the club site: "I want us to finish the season strongly and put down a marker for next year.

"If results go our way, I'd also like to push through some of the young players who have done well in the reserves and see how they handle the next step up, which is playing in front of 20,000.

"Tommy Smith at centre-half has impressed greatly in the reserves and is fast emerging as a candidate for first team football and if the opportunity comes up, he's one we might look at throwing in.

"Ian Miller is on loan at Darlington and doing very well by all accounts and I'd like to see him play a game or two in the blue shirt before the season is out."

Centre-half Miller joined the Blues from Bury Town earlier in the season, while striker Jordan Rhodes, son of keeper-coach Andy, was signed from Barnsley for £5,000 when a schoolboy. Midfielder Ed Upson scored the winning goal in the 2005 FA Youth Cup final while still at school.

Meanwhile, Magilton has told his more established players that they have to show their worth during the remainder of the season: “Every one of my players - regardless of when their contracts come to an end - must prove to me they want to be part of what we are building.

“Their futures are hanging in the balance. There will be no switching off. There is a great deal to play for, and my players are well aware of this.”

The Town boss says the win at Luton last week is the shape of things to come: “This is the way forward. The players generated their own atmosphere and they were all in it together.

“I don't expect them all to be best friends, but I want them to be buddies - to have a healthy respect for each other.

“This binding is coming together and I believe the penny has dropped.

“I am building an elite core, which is what we need to make the impression we intend to make in 2007/08.”

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