Boss Paul Jewell says striker Connor Wickham has all the tools to be a top player but believes it’s important not to put too much pressure on him while he is still a baby in footballing terms. Wickham, 17, played the full 90 minutes as Town lost Jewell’s first game in charge 2-1 at Millwall on Saturday.

The new manager said: “I think we have to be careful not to hype him up. He’s got all the tools, all the attributes. But he’s learning the game, he’s a baby in terms of football.

“He’s got a bright future ahead of him, we’ve just got to make sure we work with him on the training ground day-in and day-out, he gets experience and we don’t put too much expectation or pressure on him."

Jewell says he doesn't think the England U21 international is currently being affected by the weight of expectation: “I don’t think he feels the pressure. He had flashes of what he was capable of [at Millwall]. But he’s a young player and they’re up and down. He’s got a bright future ahead of him and hopefully he can score us a few goals and become even better.”

Physically, the new boss says Wickham has everything required: “He is a special one. He’s a great shape, he’s got good legs. As I say, he’s got all the tools, but for Connor’s sake, it’s not fair on him for us to keep building him up because like any young player he will go through phases of inconsistency, but he’s got all the tools there.

“The experience he’s getting at the moment will keep him in good stead, but we’d like to be winning games.”

Wickham, who is contracted to the Blues until the summer of 2012 but has been linked with all the top Premier League clubs at some point over the last couple of years, turns 18 on March 31st when he would be able to agree a further deal at Town.

Photo: Action Images

bluelady added 14:36 - Jan 18 dolly_verbiage i have acknowledged my mistake and apologised. I hear lots of rumours i choose not to post as do we all, this is a story i was told from a very good friend was true.
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TractorBeezer added 15:22 - Jan 18 I think that Wickham will come good with propere management and coaching. On a change of topic. If Darren Bent moves from Sunderland to Villa is there still any applicable sell on clause for Ipswich? Or was that exhausted with his move from Charlton to Spurs.
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BlueJewells added 19:02 - Jan 18 absolutely right therte
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jas0999 added 19:19 - Jan 18 If everyone wants to move on after Roy's sacking, then we need to forget about Rhodes and all the other players who left the club under Roy.PhilTWTD may have inside information - I am sure he does - but ultimately none of us will never know what happened with Stead, Rhodes and others. Did Roy try to keep Stead - was it Clegg who wanted him off the books? Who knows and now with a new manager who cares. Am more interested in who we will be signing. Clegg made a big deal of a new manager coming in now to take advantage of the transfer window, so can't wait to see who they have lined up.

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