Boss Paul Jewell is using the international break to work on the fitness of a number of players, amongst them summer signing Elliott Hewitt, who has spent the season so far getting over the hip impingement operations he underwent while still with former club Macclesfield. Jewell says recent loan signings Richie Wellens, DJ Campbell and Bilel Mohsni will also be amongst those being given a “mini pre-season”.

“The two-week break, sometimes it comes at a good time, sometimes it comes at a bad time. It’s come, so we have to deal with it,” Jewell said.

“It gives us an opportunity to get some fitness work into one or two people that we [have brought in] and players already here with a view to being ready for the next game against Hull.

“Elliott Hewitt is one that we might be able to hammer on the training ground as far as getting fit is concerned.

“Cormac Burke’s been out with an injury, so there are one or two players who haven’t played a lot of football that are on the periphery, who can get a bit of a mini pre-season into them.”

The Town boss says that once fit 18-year-old right-back Hewitt has a big task ahead of him to win a place in the first team and is unlikely to be a regular this season: “He’s got to get past Carlos Edwards!

“He’s had two hips operated on, which is taking its time and he’s picked up little niggles, which you'd expect.

“He’s one for the future. Whatever we get out of him this season will be a bonus. Next season, he’ll come on even more. I’ve bought players that, hopefully, are going to be here for a long time.”

Jewell says that at the moment Hewitt, who played two 45-minutes for the U21s before picking up a minor thigh problem, faces a fight even for a role amongst the subs with the more versatile Jack Ainsley covering for Edwards amongst others: “Jack Ainsley’s come in and earned his place because he can play a number of positions.

“Elliott is a right-back, he can play midfield as well, but he’s mainly an athletic right-back that’s only played 10 games for Macclesfield Town. We feel he’s got huge potential to go on and be a really good player for us.

“He wasn’t really bought with this season in mind. Whatever happens this season will be a bonus, an education for him - coming here and seeing how it works here.”

However, the Town boss isn’t entirely ruling out the Welsh U21 international getting an earlier chance, particularly if injuries strike: “I might be talking in two weeks’ time and he’s come through as Carlos has picked up a knock and he’s going to play, I don’t know. But he’s one we’ve bought with the future in mind.”

Photo: Action Images

biggsie_blue added 06:48 - Oct 11 I'm feeling sorry for jack ainsly who had a good game at home to huddersfield and was dropped for the next match surely he gets his chance if carlos picks a knock
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Rentaghost added 07:05 - Oct 11 The future is bright the future is league one. We should blood as many as these youngsters as possible ready for next season. If we do go down a lot of first teamers will leave.
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Surco72 added 07:54 - Oct 11 When Hewitt is fit Edwards can move to midfield , however well everyone claims Edwards played against Cardiff it was still his man that put two unchallenged crossess in to the box for both their goals .Stop so many crosses coming in and you have a chance of conceding less and others making mistakes
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IamSpartacus added 08:05 - Oct 11 Just another pre-season for Jewell not to sign players on permamently.... no thanks.
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taylor15 added 08:06 - Oct 11 why we haven't got a new manager in, for this two week international break bemuses me. if we lose against hull, PJ will most likely be sacked. they would have had 2 weeks to get the team together, and everything else. however, elliot hewitt seem to be a good player, as not many players are scouted for 2 years by arsenal, and have a bid made more.
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Michael11 added 08:31 - Oct 11 After how well Jack Ainsley played against Huddersfield and JET showing poor form at the time i thought it would make sense to keep Ainsley right-back and push Edwards up into his old right wing role!
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Karlosfandangal added 08:55 - Oct 11 Ainsley played well against Huddlefield but that does not mean he is ready to take over from Edwards just because most fans are anti Jet at the minute. Jewell is going nowhere as you don't let the manager sign 3 players and then sack him 2 days later, I would guess that Christmas time is when he will go if we are still struggling , some of the loans will be running out and the Jan transfer window will open. Would like Jewell to turn it around as I would hate a new manager coming in and another 2 years of team building and more players in and out. We bring in more players each year than Sir Bobby did in his whole career at Portmanteau Road

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pazelle added 09:04 - Oct 11 Great Stuff! Hope we beat Hull, then we've got 2 easy home games!
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JimmyJazz added 09:30 - Oct 11 Think PJ deserves credit for signing players that won't necessarily make an impact during the length of his contract. But instead we have the 'why are you still here' comments
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levington added 09:38 - Oct 11 Well done Paul, you sign a lad with prospects but start the season without a first team. You should be sacked.
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Gazelle added 09:41 - Oct 11 Surco72 you are spot on, Edwards is fine going forward but as a defender..............!!!
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matthewharley added 10:16 - Oct 11 i am getting this feeling that pj and the players will turn this around because this is so remenisant of alex furgersons beginings all of a sudden we start winning matches and the next thing you know pj will sign a contract for 5 years after all if we stop crosses coming in from all over the pitch and the defenders learn how to defend properly as the whole team are defenders then i see an amazing team which maybe just maybe the best team that town have ever seen BUT first we must learn to defend and stop crosses coming in .Some of you may think im a hippocrite but i can see what the problem is and just maybe this 2 week break is the perfect time to spend all the time on aspects of defending and stopping those crosses if he does this then i can see a new team capable of massive things i am sick and tired of beating the manager and players down as this is getting us nowhere i am also starting to think that ME is a man of his word , as he is sticking with pj. now tell me wether this is remenisant of alex furgerson?

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Legend added 10:21 - Oct 11 This lad does sound very good.
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matthewharley added 10:25 - Oct 11 yes he does but seeing is believing lets see what happens but in all fairness he does have some exellent players to learn from if they all do there homework
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algarvefan added 10:27 - Oct 11 It amazes me that people are having a go at 'the winger' Carlos Edwards, who has consistently been played out of position as a full back. The answer is to play players in their best position. Carlos frightened the hell out of Cardiff going forward and to be honest at his age keeping both ends of the pitch covered for 90 minutes is a big ask. He is the best player at the club in my opinion, so stop having a go and lets put Ainsley in, move Carlos up and leave the sulky JET out!!! Oh and Hewitt on the bench!

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matthewharley added 10:31 - Oct 11 most definately
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MattinLondon added 10:48 - Oct 11 Call me daft but shouldn't you play players in their natural position..Edwards right-midfielder etc?
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Ipswichbusiness added 11:10 - Oct 11 First, it is always good to see young players coming through and I really hope that this lad makes it. Unfortunately, Mr Jewell's record with the youngsters is decidedly mixed; for example, he brought on Aaron Creswell very well last year, but seems determined to leave out others (e.g. Smith, Ainsley, etc). Second, I think that Edwards is a better right-back than he is often given credit for. Just because a couple of crosses came across from his side doesn't mean that it is necessarily his fault as football is a team game. Whilst I am a strong supporter of JET, who I think will be an excellent player if he wants to enough, tackling back is probably not the strongest part of his game. Third, we owe a lot to Mr Evans, quite literally for he has put an awful lot of money into the club and without him we would probably be in administration. That said, I suspect he is rather stubborn and will probably continue with Mr Jewell as manager until the end of the season.

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Surco72 added 11:46 - Oct 11 Algarvefan ... you criticise people having a go at Edwards and then agree totally with the point i made that he should be pushed forward and a defender put behind him !! Laughable And give Edwards credit for being a better right back ,i have lost count the amount of goals we have conceded through Edwards being out of position ,not picking up his man ,switching off at corners which drags the centre backs all over the place and puts pressure on the whole back five . I also think he is one of our better players but as a midfielder and agree it is Jewells fault that he is played there but that doesnt stop him being a non natural defender who costs us goals

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Suzanna_Gekkaloys added 12:22 - Oct 11 Hopefully those zits on Hewitt's forehead will have cleared up too. Nasty.
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alliedaz added 13:23 - Oct 11 it shouldnt be a few players it should be whole team and these players need to stand up and be counted and proud to wear the shirt but at the moment their seems to be alot of players getting paid for shocking performances,
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Edmunds5 added 16:04 - Oct 11 I think we should try 3-5-2 We could always go three at centre half with Cresswell and Edwards as wing backs, that way they can bomb on and do what they're naturally good at and the right sided centre back probably Chambers could cover, likewise Higginbotham or Smith the other side for Cresswell, then have Hyam, Ndaw or Wellens in a deeper role with two in front and two up front. Wigan a similar system and stopped leaking goals and it may mean we hang on to leads a bit easier. Besides our formation at the moment is hardly getting us results, could be a good time to not only work on fitness but use this new idea and get players to understand their roles.

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Ipswich24 added 16:32 - Oct 11 Edmund5 I agree have been going on for ages about 3-5-2, I know it is not popular anymore but we have the players who are suited to it. Edwards and Cresswell are both excellent wing backs not full backs. Can then move JET inside play the old Scowcroft role off the front two. Then you can have Ndaw and Luongo or Hyam in the middle.
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billybluenuts added 11:37 - Oct 14 'He has to get past Carlos Edwards' - Surely not a very daunting challege, just ask every opposition player this season as they seemed to manage it with ease!!
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