Blues boss Paul Jewell says more of his fringe players could get their chance between now and the end of the season. Midfielders Ryan Stevenson and Josh Carson were amongst those who came into the team for Monday’s 2-1 home defeat to Leicester and a number of others could get an opportunity with the campaign over from a competitive perspective.

Jewell says those on the periphery who impress him in training may play during the final four games of the season: “As I said before, I don’t want to just give out shirts willy-nilly.

"We take every game seriously, we’ve got a tough game on Saturday at Crystal Palace then another on Tuesday against Birmingham, so it’s relentless really.

“But we might change things around because we did look a little bit tired against Leicester.”

Keeper Richard Wright and midfielder Jimmy Bullard may be amongst the more experienced players who may come into the side at some stage, while striker Nathan Ellington will also hope for some involvement after a first season at Portman Road in which he has made only one league and two cup starts, in addition to 14 sub appearances, and is yet to score.

At the other end of the scale, 16-year-old schoolboy Byron Lawrence warmed up with the senior squad on the pitch prior to Monday’s game against Leicester.

Jewell has previously said that the midfielder, who was on the bench for the Carling Cup match against Northampton earlier in the season, could make his debut before the end of the campaign, probably in the role usually occupied by Lee Martin.

Luke Hyam could also come back into the centre of the midfield, while Jack Ainsley could play some part at right-back.

Fellow full-backs Joe Whight, whose only involvement with the first team this season was a place on the bench for the Northampton match, and Callum Bennett, the only second-year scholar other than Whight to have been offered a professional contract, could also come into contention for some involvement.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Strikes added 12:38 - Apr 11 During my glorious career at the very lowest level of the English game, end of season matches with nothing riding on them heralded "pick a shirt" - all the players picked a number out of a hat that corresponded to a shirt and a position. Our goalkeeper once picked number 2 and popped up with a goal from right back. It would give us all a laugh at least, and a Richard Wright hat-trick from centre forward would be a fitting farewell to the great man.

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Edinburgh_Blue added 12:40 - Apr 11 @jas0999. 'Confidence shattered'?! Then they need to 'man' up.
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Langdon_Blue added 12:41 - Apr 11 Davidsc1971 - Being a football manager does look easy doesn't it. But can you chew gum for a whole 90 minutes and do you not have the ability to tie a tie up correctly, the way managers can? :-)
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8ashblue added 12:43 - Apr 11 i'm just wondeering who he has got left to pick as we seem to have little choice available. Apart from Ellington (who wont be staying) we have no other striker, there arent any CB's apart from Sonko who again probaby wont be here either so i does look like we've got very few options. Some players may need a rest but its important that we try and win as many as poss so we finsh on a high note!

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DiamondGezzer added 13:06 - Apr 11 Agree with Lathers and 8ashblue, throwing in the kids may be great experience for them, but the result may not be great for us. Yes I know they have to be blooded at sometime, but all at once ? When as suggested, those from the team who need the game time [ Bullard, Hyam etc ] so as to be up to speed for next season, could get left out. My point is, whether there is anything to play for or not, I HATE seeing the boys lose and worse still, getting stuffed ! What about pride ?

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walberswick added 13:20 - Apr 11 “But we might change things" Same idea, same result.
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Surco72 added 13:23 - Apr 11 Bullard should start as he has not been played in his correct position all season alongside a player with energy like Drury or Hyam ,and build the team around him ready for next year ,the last three games have been crying out for someone with his quality . And Jas ,Ellington may have been a gamble that has not payed off but starting only one league game is hard to judge the man on . It could be worse we could have spent millions on a forward that has only scored 20 odd goals since 2006 and then buy him out of his contract before sending him to Russia div 2 ,whilst selling a youngster to fund the deal who goes on to score goals for fun and become an international !! But that would be too far fetched

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osborne1nil added 13:41 - Apr 11 That told him Surco. Would like to see a change around too. Wright back in goal for rest of season (would rather keep him then ALB). Peters back in at Right midfield or RB if Edwards swops. Bullard and Drury/Hyam in centre. Stevenson and Scotland upfront. Bench Carson, Hyam/Drury, Cropper, Whight and Lawrence. That'll mix it up. Although this won't happen to use these players over the last few games may help make a decision on them.

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Kesgraveblue57 added 14:58 - Apr 11 Fringe players interesting (means I can lose the next matches) whatever happened to a first team squad
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TimmyH added 15:39 - Apr 11 Don't have a problem with this at all, but don't put them on the bench if they have 1 poorish game and never to be seen again, several players need a few games maybe together and would like to see Hyam back in the starting line up. Might also be good to see Carlos playing in midfield too, as for Leadboots and Bowyer they should at least be benched if not in the squad altogether. Hyam, Drury, Edwards, Martin, Stevenson and Carson the future of Portman Road midfield and maybe a possible additure to this in the summer.

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tractorboy2434 added 16:44 - Apr 11 Drop Leadbitter, Bowyer, play Hyam, Drury, Bullard, its not rocket science, in the summer let Bowyer, Ellington and Sonko go, sign some players with some pace, if you ca'nt do that then leave and let somebody with some idea have a go.
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Lightningboy added 16:47 - Apr 11 No chance of Jewell risking playing a team full of youngsters..he'd rather stick with his faves - Leadbitter & Bowyer in the middle. PJ needs to remember that if it hadn't been for Drury,Hyam etc grabbing hold of this team's midfield by the scruff or the neck we'd still be struggling near the relegation places..personally,I think he's ballsed up the last few weeks by bringing Bowyer back in and ignoring Hyam completely..him and Drury were looking like a brilliant little engine room. You've got a big gut PJ..how about showing some actual guts over the last 4 games,leave out the players who have no intention of staying and giving Cropper,Hyam,Peters & Lawrence etc etc the games?

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Blue041273 added 16:51 - Apr 11 Depends what he means by fringe players. In this age of squad football I can't imagine that anyone close to the 1st team would be happy to be considered a 'fringe' player. But it does make sense to give a couple of the youngsters a game or two. Of all PJ's perceived failings the biggest is his continued failure to bring young players into the 1st team picture. Whight & Lawrence were both mentioned early season as being close to getting a game but in reality have not really had a sniff of any 1st team involvement. It would be better to see what kids like these can do rather than use other squad players who do not have long term futures here.

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LFCITFC added 16:55 - Apr 11 would love to see all the following start: ALB Edwards, Delaney, Smith, Cresswell Carson, Hyam, Drury, Martin Jet/Lawrence Chops
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PauloJulio added 17:02 - Apr 11 Like to see Whight play because i think Cresswell might get snapped up by a prem league outfit before next season starts!
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bluelady added 17:13 - Apr 11 PauloJulio he is good but not that good :-)
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davekl12 added 17:18 - Apr 11 Very good blog, narrowed it down nicely... On reflection I agree Martin has been player of the season. When we consider the Peterborough travesty Martin has recovered brilliantly. He's starting to fulfill that overdue potential.
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newboy added 17:24 - Apr 11 I am starting to think bluelady must be pj's mother ! Hyam deserves another go he has been treated badly whight not up to it yet judging by u18 performances and Lawrence is a long way off the mark he looks lost in u18 games bennett not seen him play RB all season so cannot judge. Last year he looked good at rb but again bad management leaves the youngsters demoralised. Wright should be given a last chance to wear the shirt

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fourth added 17:39 - Apr 11 Well, I think we have a much better squad at this end of season compared with last. Is it fit? Does it have a plan? It is capable of brilliance, therefore when it becomes impotent as it has very recently, we need to look behind the scenes. I think it's going in the right direction generally, but I share those many comments about Hyam.
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Keaneish added 18:17 - Apr 11 Jas - can you stop thinking of a point and contorting it to fuel your boring futile anti-PJ campaign please? Hyam and Carson are young players. They are not ready to play week in week out yet. They need to be brought in and left out for spells for several reasons. Many managers up and down the country do this. I think you should be asking, why is Carson not fit enough as it appears he wasn't in good enough shape to play the other day? Is this to do with training or is this due to his own commitment? Their confidence isn't shattered. For anyone who has played the game at a decent level will tell you, at that age you're constantly chomping at the bit, eager to impress and working as hard as you can to get given a few games. It's NOT poor management. Its good management. What will shatter a young players confidence is if they play in the wrong games, against the wrong opponents and get humiliated week in week out. They need to be nurtured.

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fourth added 18:51 - Apr 11 Keanish! Give us a break. It's not to do with nurturing and saving from "humiliation". Hyam is 20 years old. Quite mature you know. He certainly has shown this season that he is far from needing this "protection", with Drury giving the drive which created our winning run.It also created the opportunity for others to express themselves. the His break from selection is just that. A selection problem.

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maxharrold added 19:27 - Apr 11 Don't bother playing the oldies (i.e Richard Wright, Ellington, Bowyer etc.). Playing 'fringe' players at the end of the season is all about gaining experience and getting a taste of first team action. It would be nice to for PJ to play a much younger side in these final meaningless games. Maybe Cropper, Wight, Ainsley, Smith, Bennett, Peters (remember him?), Hyam, Drury, Carson, Lawrence, Stevenson (4-4-1-1)

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bluelady added 20:55 - Apr 11 Ha ha new boy don't add years to me please, more like his little sister :-)
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Thetfordtractor added 21:00 - Apr 11 This years fringe players need to be next years 1st choice. Get them in and give them a taste of the first team, get them motivated and give them hope through the close season, then hit the ground running. Hansen always says that kids will never win you anything, but neither have loan and washed up premiership players. PJ what have we got to lose?
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Steelmonkey added 21:51 - Apr 11 Bluelady, I thought that we had seen Wright play his last game for us at least twice already! PJ gave him a contract in desparation in my view, then has completly ignored him and then signed two loanees in the meantime. If the manager has seen fit to only to have him as third choice back up for the season, then why should we play a player who will not be part of the set up next season for a last game or for the rest of the season as some have suggested. Give the likes of Cropper a taste just to see if he can do the business in front of a crowd. How else are we going to blood a player, and judge his potential. And that goes for the other young fringe players, who as they say if they are good enough are old enough. Yes the Hyam situation seems a bit of a puzzle, he comes in plays a blinder for a number of games then gets rested because he looks jaded for one game. I was told that he carried a niggling injury for most of last season, but can't get that confirmed. Now wondering if it was true and that it has resurfaced. Has anyone heard that one?

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