New academy manager Sammy Morgan has praised young striker Connor Wickham ahead of this Saturday's rescheduled FA Youth Cup tie with Watford at Portman Road. Morgan says Wickham has the right attitude to go a long way in the game.

Morgan told TWTD: "Physically, he's strong, mentally he's still a young person, but as long as he's guided the right way he'll be fine. I've been involved with him since he was 13 and have helped him, being a front player myself.

"He's a good listener, very genuine, level-headed and has very supportive and responsible parents. I can't speak highly enough of him. He's worked extremely hard. He's come in today, he asked me, ‘Is there a game today, Sammy?' He just wants to play.

"That's the love of youth development. There's a freshness, a naivety and innocence and just a sheer want to play football. Forget all the other nonsense, forget the politics, forget money, it's a purer form of football.

"Then as things move on they come into the real world and you have to try to prepare them for that and Connor's probably in that interim period at the moment. All of a sudden everyone will want to chase him and want a bit of him and we've got to guard him from that.”

The 15-year-old will be in the U18 side which plays Watford in their FA Youth Cup fifth round tie at Portman Road on Saturday (KO 3pm), the game which was recently abandoned in the 88th minute due to a waterlogged pitch.

If the young Blues win that match they will face Birmingham away in the sixth round and if they progress beyond the Midlanders will take on Liverpool in a two-legged semi-final.

Morgan was talking to TWTD for an interview in issue 96 of the fanzine, which is out at Tuesday's home game against Southampton. The issue will be on sale around the ground from our sellers (by Sir Alf, outside Planet Blue, next to the Portman Road entrance to the Greene King Stand) from 6pm.

If you're not at the game, single copies or six-issue subscriptions can be purchased from here, where there are also special offers which could see you receive TWTD for free.

Additionally, the new Ipswich ‘Til I Die book will also be on sale at the TWTD stall next to Sir Alf on Tuesday from Ipswich Town Ist. This is also available for purchase online from TWTD here.

Photo: Action Images

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