Skipper Jon Walters says Connor Wickham needs to keep working if he is to make the most of his talent and reach the top of the game. Wickham signed a two-year professional contract with the Blues on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Blues captain said: “Connor’s a very good player. He’s young and hungry. Now he’s got to work his socks off and learn from the coaches and other players.

“Good things will happen if he does that and we’ll all do our best to help him develop his career.

“We’ve seen other players of his age being billed as the next big thing but then it peters out for them because they think they’ve made it.

“But if he keeps working hard hopefully he’ll get his rewards and the best players are the ones who always want to keep learning.

“This season has been a learning curve for him but he’s always made an impact when he’s come on, which is good.

“Keep a level head and don’t be distracted by things outside of football. Connor’s got a level head, though, and he’s certainly got good people around him.”

Walters says Town’s second goal against Reading was definitely his despite catching Royals defender Zurab Khizanishvili on its way into the net: “I got a touch and it was heading towards goal. Then their lad got another touch but there’s no chance of anyone taking it off me. I’m claiming it.”

Meanwhile, boss Roy Keane says he’s already looking ahead to 2010/11 and couldn’t get his mind off his plans during a spell away with his family last week: "Thinking ahead to next season always goes on.

"That went on at four o'clock this morning in my head. I was in Spain earlier in the week for a couple of days and I might as well have taken the players away with me because that's all you think about. There is no switching off. The team lives with you."

One player linked with the Blues over the weekend was Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley, who looks likely to leave the Stadium of Light in the summer with his opportunities largely having been limited to sub appearances under Steve Bruce’s management.

Right-back Bardsley is a former Manchester United team-mate of Keane’s with the Blues boss signing him from his old club when he was manager of the Black Cats.

The 24-year-old was previously linked with the Blues last July and is also said to be interesting Bolton and Burnley.

Photo: Action Images

arc added 09:48 - Apr 5 Let's hope the priority is not signing a RB. Hasn't DWright yet convinced Keane that the team is better when he's in it??
0

leadbitter6 added 10:01 - Apr 5 only paper talk arc
0

I_AM_GOD added 10:11 - Apr 5 If we don't sign Rosenior, then surely we will need a second right back? Guess that is the logic there.
0

Gordonzola added 11:45 - Apr 5 Keane linked with Black Cat shocker. The only surprise is he isn't Irish (least I don't think so!).
0

brendanh added 11:52 - Apr 5 Walters is right. Too many players relax when the ink dries, Gary Roberts for instance. Wickham is young, and has a lot of work ahead of him to prove himself. It's not difficult to score at youth level when you're twice their size.
0

jabberjackson added 12:26 - Apr 5 It may be paper talk, but at the same time Bardsley is a top class defender that would make our defence formidably strong - I'm not convinced we have the answer at RB yet, but at least our CB's are sorted - Hunter and Beattie, Butcher and Osman - these were the bedrock of our most successful teams oh, and of course, a fox in the box would be nice to feed off scraps coming from great wing play, that appears to be lacking at the moment, is Clive Woods still available *(the MOTM in the FA cup final, not Paul Mariner as recently stated)

0

TownLad added 14:03 - Apr 5 I think Keane needs to be looking at if he can get D.Murphy and Healy permantly or not, if he cant then he needs to start looking now for some one to fit the bill and can put us towards the top 6 next season with 15 goals plus. This Bardsley is a pretty good right back but Wrighty has played well at the moment so i would have nothing against getting him and renewing Wrights contract, nothing wrong having two GOOD right backs. If we hit form at the start of next season then confidence will be throughout the squad so thats when i think the likes of Priskin can show us what he can really do, play him off the last man with a solid midfield who are confident, and im sure he can get us ATLEAST 10 goals next season which is average, alongside with another two strikers who are aiming for 15 goals.

0

whitesark added 14:38 - Apr 5 agree with arc...david wright is totally unsung does hes job no flair and we look a better defensive outfit for him....re sign rhodes in summer before he rubs our noses init coming up through playoff..20 odd goals not sure huddersfield would be there with out that sort of contribution..priskin would raise some cash and not paying healys wages a plus too...
0

TractorRoyNo1 added 14:56 - Apr 5 re: headline i think the same could be said of many of our other players including Walters.
0

ashleylewis10 added 15:15 - Apr 5 did anyone notice the jon walters goal was actually an own goal by khizanishvilli?
0

MACKEMYANK added 19:05 - Apr 5 Bit premature about Bardsley lads. I wouldn't bet that he will be leaving Sunderland. If Spurs recall Alan Hutton then I think Phil will stay with us. If not, you may have a chance if a premier league club don't get him first.......
0

MACKEMYANK added 19:06 - Apr 5 By the way, you lot are still more than welcome to have Murphy & Healy !!!!!!
0

JonTheBass added 21:10 - Apr 5 Murphy we'll take for sure; at this level, which is where we'll be next year, he's a goalscorer. Healy i think we haven't seen the best of. Or maybe we have, in which case the best isn't all that... I think I'd probably keep Jon Stead ahead of Healy. Don't suppose you guys fancy Tamas Priskin? We could sort a good deal...?? :-)
0

JonTheBass added 21:11 - Apr 5 Oh, and when Benty gets homesick, he knows the way :-)
0

wiggymcbigalow added 21:43 - Apr 5 defence is fine. 2 classy, speedy wingers are what we need. We can get murphy for our 20 goals and connor will get a few more. Up next season. No diggedy. Word up chaps.
0

wiggymcbigalow added 21:52 - Apr 5 Waa waa. I met a section 6 muppet earlier. He said they were the new heart of portman road. I told the kid to go away. Pillock.
0

bennyblue added 23:15 - Apr 5 roy keanes the one who needs to work his socks off his has been the worst performance by far
0

Redmond added 01:06 - Apr 6 would be a good signing and also wickham is going to become a world class player he took his chance today so well
0

PhatCookie added 09:04 - Apr 6 I'm a huge town fan btw, and i love the work phil does on this site, but if this is the fickle reaction that we ar gonna make evetime a player is linked with us its gonna be a long summer, what ipswich and keane have done this year has been pretty good, he offloaded all the deadwood that didnt please him and bought in his own players,super Mac was crap when keane came and he has turned him into one of the best cenral defenders in the league, as well as bringing Wickham on leaps and bounds. we cant blame Keane for off loading Rhodes, Jim had pleanty of ops to give him a run and never dd, perhaps its more than that, i'm sure town put a % option into his fee, they aint silly, 3 months ago most of you were caling for keanes head yet i stayed loyal, i dont post much but thats cos i have a life outside of fotball, but i read a lot of comments, get a grip guys, just let keane do his job, if we are not up there and there abouts next season then i guess its the clubs decision, but how would you feel if people posted on a website how you could do ya jobs better, must be hard for the man, the only thing i wish i had of his was his wages, would be bloody nice, lol, xx

0

NSL added 23:03 - Apr 6 Is it just me or has Walters never been quite the same since he signed a long-term contract? Last January I believe. Just remember him being completely awesome when he first joined on a trial basis.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls