Striker Connor Wickham has been named the Football League’s Young Player of the Month for April. The 17-year-old celebrated signing his first professional deal by netting three goals in five games during the month.

Wickham, who is understood to be the subject of a £5 million bid from Spurs, was handed the award last week while with the England squad ahead of the European U17 Championships in Liechtenstein.

The Football League's chief operating officer Andy Williamson said: "Connor is a fantastic talent and is testament to the quality of young players being developed in the Football League.

"Despite being so young, Connor is already making a huge impact at club and international level and he will undoubtedly be a player to look out for in the future."

England's U17s start their group matches with a game against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, then take on Greece three days later and finally Turkey on 24th May.

The two top teams in the group go through to the semi-finals where they will face France, Spain, Portugal or Switzerland. The final will be played on Sunday 30th May. Eurosport are screening some of the tournament live.

England U17 coach John Peacock feels Town is the ideal place for the striker to hone his talent: “He’s a very level-headed young man. I think he’s at the right club and Roy’s done a really good job with him, steadily developing him. He’s a goalscorer but he’s matured a lot in his build-up play.

“Physically he’s a real specimen of a young man so it’s no surprise he’s dealing with the physical demands of Championship football. He’s had a lot of accolades this year but he’s dealt with it all in a very mature manner. Within this peer group, he’s just one of the 18. That can only be of benefit to the team.”

On his return from England duty Wickham faces a challenge of a different sort: “I’ve got my driving test in the week we get back from the Euros, in the first week of June. I’ve had 25-30 hours of lessons. I’m confident I can pass.”

Photo: Action Images

superblueflude added 09:04 - May 17 That should add another £1 Mill on his asking price.
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bedsitfc added 09:25 - May 17 first of many awards for our connor, well hope he is still ours when the season starts
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bluepeter added 09:50 - May 17 good luck with the test connor. Remember though, it is not like football, this time it will be better to MISS everything.
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Wallingford_Boy added 10:09 - May 17 This £5m Spurs bid is a bit odd, why have we not accepted/turned it down, or even made it public?
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bleedblue added 10:15 - May 17 He will not leave unless we receive sily money £10mil+. Evans is a business man and even he knows he will go up in value afetr a further 12 months! (All be it he doesn't break a leg etc..)
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Wallingford_Boy added 10:38 - May 17 How does Evans know? What if, like Bowditch, Clarke, etc, Wickham goes backwards? Doesn't come on as we all hope and struggles to get into the first team? He'd then be worth next to nothing. Unlikely, but you never know!
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comeonthegoodtimes added 11:44 - May 17 You have a good point Wallingford boy. but i may be wrong but i never heard Bowditch or Clarke talked about by people as the next best think, i.e as good as Rooney. Yes they said they would be good players and move up through the ranks but never in the same braket as the top Premier players. Also i don't think there was as bigger buzz around PR with those players as there is with Conner and i for one actually think that when he comes off the bench or starts that we have a real goal threat and feel as though he could score evrytime he goes forward into the box....never really felt that with the other two. Thats not to say that there bad players as being a pro in anything is a massive achievement and they were good young players. But we as Ipswich town fans have something very special in conner and i feel with the right coaching he could be a massive player for club and dare i say it country in the future......

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 12:17 - May 17 If they hadn't all heard of him before, they will have now!
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bleedblue added 12:24 - May 17 Bowditch was linked with Arsenal after his hatrick (three tap ins) against Watford. But that was as far as it went really. He has done well for Yeovil this season to be fair. Wickham will be a future hit without doubt! COYB
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Guthrum added 12:42 - May 17 Wallingford Boy 10:48 "This £5m Spurs bid is a bit odd, why have we not accepted/turned it down, or even made it public?" Hi mate. Possibly because it doesn't exist/is newspaper talk/is nowhere near that amount of money?
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WadzillaBhoy added 13:01 - May 17 The transfer window doesn't open till July 1st so there will be no real offer for a while, which is a good thing. Either we will keep him or more clubs will become interested thus increasing the price. No manager will make a transfer this early before the window. Its all speculation right now. Plus always best to keep your options open you never know who might be up for a free.

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Fatboy added 13:14 - May 17 Let's hope he doesn't have the same driving instructor as Liam Rosenior.
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footyfan182 added 14:31 - May 17 Well done Conner for being named Young player of the month. Shame we only ever seem to turn out strikers, Couple of the u18's look good this year Tom and Billy will be good if we can get as much intrest for them in the future too. Good luck with your driving test - bet you will have a great car.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 17:49 - May 17 Hey FATBOY, as a Town supporting Driving Instructor, don't go blaming Liam Rosenior's Instructor for his supidity behind the wheel, What do you think his instructor said to him then: "When you've passed your test Liam, I would advise you to drive without insurance!" -Good Luck Connor
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