Blues striker Jack Marriott scored with a freekick deep in injury time to earn his loan club Woking a 1-1 home draw with Eastleigh in the final game of his current spell with the Cards.

The 20-year-old has hit form in the latter stages of his third stint with the Vanarama Conference club, netting three goals in five games.

Previously, the striker had gone nine starts and three sub appearances without scoring, having bagged on his third debut following his return to Woking in September. Last season the academy product scored 13 goals in 23 starts and one sub appearance during two spells with the Cards.

Speaking last week, manager Mick McCarthy indicated that Marriott, whose contract is up at the end of the season, is likely to be sent out on another loan spell: “Jack hadn’t been playing regularly at Woking, he’s not had the same degree of success in terms of scoring goals.

“He needs to get that, he needs to play somewhere regularly and get some goals before he even thinks about getting in my team.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy was spotted at St Mary’s this afternoon watching the Blues’ Sunday FA Cup opponents Southampton beat Arsenal 2-0.

Elsewhere, former Blues striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has joined League One Preston North End on a deal until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old left Town after a six-month spell in the summer having made two starts and eight sub appearances, coincidentally making his debut against Preston in last season's FA Cup.

Since then he has had trials with Oldham, Brentford and Bradford, before joining up with the Lilywhites at the start of last month.

Photo: Action Images

battyblue added 20:01 - Jan 1 This is not a negative towards MM who has done us proud this season so far but if Jack has to score more goals to stand a chance of getting in towns team what is sammon doing there .
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Cakeman added 21:21 - Jan 1 I see where you are coming from battyblue and this may sound odd but I think Sammon is not particularly being used as a potential goal scorer. Mick tends to bring him on very late to eat up a few minutes, make a nuisance of himself, break up play and be a general pain in the backside. Sammon is a powerful build and can look after himself, Marriott is smaller and by far less experienced to do that role. I am unsure if Marriott has a future at Town. At the moment he won't get any game time to show what he can do.

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deano85 added 22:28 - Jan 1 A few years ago Marriot looked a great prospect, now he is only looking like a 'good' prospect at best... Dont get me wrong, im sure he has a future, but at 20.... Look at williams he has just turned 21 so basicly the same age, who would you prefere???
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Kirbmeister added 00:37 - Jan 2 He's playing non league, he has no chance of playing in the championship.
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battyblue added 06:07 - Jan 2 I am not saying he is good enough to go into the team right now and agree with Cakemans comment but am judging on what i have seen in earlier season sub appearances pre season performances and under 21 matches where he fitted in and scored goals,i suppose you cant describe him as a hard worker but in my humble opinion believe he needs a better standard of football to be at his best,,

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Len_Brennan added 07:11 - Jan 2 @ Battyblue. Where is he going to get that better standard though? He could not get into sides in Divisions 1 & 2 and spent quite a bit of time on the bench during this loan spell in the Conference. I agree with Deano85; he is no longer in the hot prospect category that he was 2 years ago. He's not ready to be a Championship player now & we are striving to be a Premiership team come August. It's probably not going to happen here for him. Sammon is a different option (& is with us until the end of the season anyway), but I would certainly prefer to have Noel Hunt in the squad as the 'Johnny on the spot' striker option. I couldn't see Jack take the clattering Hunty got at Charlton, dust himself off & keep his composure to slot home that goal against that defense. Maybe he'll come good in time, he does have a good finish on him when given the chance, but the jury is still out on whether he can carve out those openings against tough, experienced football league defenders. This time last year people were calling for him to be playing ahead of Murphy, but Mick knew what he was doing.

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battyblue added 07:18 - Jan 2 Nice to have a sensible discussion between supporters who want the best for Town and its players,,totally agree Noel Hunt is a better option at the moment lets hope Jack does make the grade for his and our sake.
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wkj added 08:25 - Jan 2 I would have liked to see him play in a town shirt more, however now isn't the time to give into sentiment. If we were looking at a mid-table season then maybe. I get the feeling he isn't MM's cup of tea as it seems Mick likes strong physical strikers, I feel MM is a bit to light weight for Mick. When we get promoted this year I think any chance Marriott may have had with us will be long long gone.

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Letchworth_Blue added 08:29 - Jan 2 Sadly for Jack, I agree entirely with wkj.
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Bluetone added 12:07 - Jan 2 Does Jack have a future in league football? Probably yes Does Jack have a future with Ipswich? Almost certainly not.
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brian_a_mul added 14:51 - Jan 2 I hope Jack can get a loan in League 2, I think with better players around him (and better pitches) he could be more effective with his pace and finishing ability. I still think he can do it but he really must up his game a few notches, at the moment I cant see us extending his contract. Remember past strikers that made a big initial impact but faded away: Dean Bowditch and Billy Clarke. These guys had more ability than Jack and forced their way in to the first team. He certainly has a decent League career ahead of him but he may not reach the level we all hope for!

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elalaer9 added 15:39 - Jan 2 You have to skip right to the end (9mins 30) for the goal....but it wasn't from a free-kick. Got wires crossed there I think. It's a great finish though. http://www.wokingfc.co.uk/first-team/match/302/#highlights
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Cakeman added 16:13 - Jan 2 Fully agree with you battyblue, it is nice to have a sensible discussion on the forum with people being allowed to have differing views without getting heavily slated by a few.
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