Manager Jim Magilton has hinted that academy striker Connor Wickham could become Town's youngest ever first team player over the Christmas period. The Blues boss has been impressed with the 15-year-old academy schoolboy, who has been a regular in the U18s this season and has also played for the reserves.

Magilton said: "He's an outstanding individual. He's making massive strides, he's played at schoolboy level for England and I think he's going to be a big, big player for this football club. He's not far away.

"We've always brought players through and he's the next one, I think. We have high hopes for the lad. He'll bring enthusiasm and quality and he's a wonderful athlete.”

Wickham, a big, powerful striker, was born on 31st March 1993, which makes him 15 years and 256 days old. Town's current youngest ever first teamer is Jason Dozzell, who made his debut (and scored) against Coventry City on 4th February 1984 when aged 16 years 57 days.

Wickham recently scored his first England U16 goal in their Sky Sports Victory Shield win against Scotland at Lincoln's Sincil Bank, the striker winning his second cap at that level.

In the summer, Wickham won four U17 caps and scored once at the Nordic Tournament in Denmark in which England annually field an U16 squad despite the competition being for the older age group.

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