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Foley and Non-League Youngster Hickey Start for U21s
Monday, 11th Jan 2016 13:26

Former Ireland and Wolves full-back Kevin Foley and Barwell midfielder Brady Hickey are both in action for Town’s U21s in this afternoon’s game against Charlton at Playford Road (KO 1pm).

Foley, 31, left FC Copenhagen in the summer and has subsequently spent time training with Shrewsbury and Reading.

Previously he played for Mick McCarthy at Wolves, having started his career with Luton. Foley, who is primarily a right-back, also had a couple of spells on loan at Blackpool while at Wolves.

Town boss McCarthy is after another full-back with Jonny Parr set to complete his move to Strømsgodset today.

“Foles is playing,” he confirmed. “I’ve no doubt he could play both full-back positions. We have got Myles Kenlock and Josh Emmanuel, but the problem is with young lads that it’s OK coming in and having a game or two games, it’s when they have to play 10 games - can they get through it, have that experience and keep going? That is always the issue.

“We played Josh and he did well at Brentford, Myles has done well when he’s been playing. So, they’re the options, youngsters, then we’ve got a chance to have a look at Foles today.”

McCarthy recalls Foley impressing him for the Hatters against his Wolves team: “He played against us for Luton at Wolves and at the time we had some good wide players, Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly, and he saw them all off.

“I signed him on the back of that and he was different class for me. He’s a great bloke, he’d fit in fabulously with the lads, if he’s all right, if he’s fully fit, but he looks it.

“He’s trained with us and he looks the part at the moment, so hopefully he’ll get through the game today.

“He was out playing in Denmark [with FC Copenhagen], he hurt his shoulder and he had to have an operation in the summer. That doesn’t bother me too much. If it was his legs it might be bothering me, but it was his shoulder.

“He’s a gentleman, he’s a lovely fella, he’d fit in perfectly with the rest of the lads. I hope he proves that he’s worth it.”

As previously reported, Hickey, a 19-year-old midfielder from Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division Barwell, is back for a second spell training with the Blues.

McCarthy says he couldn’t see him in match action the first time he was at Playford Road, which was why he was asked back.

“He couldn’t have a game, I wanted to see him play,” he added. “Training’s one thing, playing in games is a completely different thing.

“I always hope that they’re going to be OK. We keep bringing them in and have a look at them. If you have one in your lifetime that you bring in as a manager or a coach and you end up getting £8 million for him then great.

“I’ve done it a few times. Michael Kightly came in for 25 grand at Wolves [from Grays Athletic] and we did well with him. Kevin Bru walks through the door, we got him for nothing, although he had a bit of a pedigree, to be fair.

“We keep looking and some we get wrong, I have to be honest, but the ones that you get right, you tend to revel in them.”

A former England schoolboy international, Hickey joined Barwell in the summer having previously been with another Midlands non-league side, St Andrew’s.

A student at Loughborough University, he has scored 10 goals and claimed six assists in 36 appearances this season and has been described as a "non-league version of Frank Lampard” by his current manager Jimmy Ginnelly.

Hickey’s performances this season have attracted the interest of a host of clubs in addition to the Blues, including Middlesbrough, Leeds, Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, Burnley, Mansfield and Oxford, and he has also spent time on trial with Leicester City.

U21s: Henly, Emmanuel, Foley, McDonnell, Robinson (c), Kenlock, Hammond, Hickey, Alabi, McLoughlin, Henshall. Subs: Cole, Guldbrandsen, McKendry, Ford.


Photo: Action Images



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bluelady added 14:07 - Jan 11
Yes our current left back was a not so good signing....
-11

blues1 added 14:20 - Jan 11
our current left back was a good signing. yes, hes struggled on occasions which is not surprising as he needed to adjust to the pace of the game in England. but he has been the most consistent performer for us over the last few games. and, bluelady. cast your mind back to cresswells 1st season, and mings too. neither of them were exactly great but improved vastly in their 2nd season. so don't join all the other so called itfc fans using him as a scapegoat. really is pathetic how some of our fans have to have some1 to pick on when the team fail to win or perform. they win as a team lose as a team. its never down to 1 player that they fail, or indeed win games
10

WhoisJimmyJuan added 14:50 - Jan 11
The problem is with young lads us playing 10 games but not having the experience??? Well how do they get that if you never play them MM? Unless of course it's Ainsley Maitland Niles? On the other hand if you are Irish, over 30 and once went into Wilkinsons in Wolverhampton .......
4

bayblue added 14:54 - Jan 11
If still available on loan, Ben Chilwell of Leicester is my pick. Performance against Spurs yesterday one of the best full back displays I've seen in a long time.
2

battyblue added 15:36 - Jan 11
Would he be free or for a bag of chips then perhaps the two mm s might be interrested.
2

thebeat added 15:50 - Jan 11
I think its safe to say if Foley proves his fitness he will be in the door straight away. Another one to join the favourites gang by the sound of it.
Well he was "different class" for Mick at Wolves, funny that cus ive asked my mates back in Wolvo where ive lived in the past and to a man they say "average"
4

StowTractorBoy added 15:53 - Jan 11
Blues1 a brilliant post - agree with everything you say. Knudsen plays his heart out and still adjusting to the pace and style of our game. He could turn out to be another gem. He also gives us balance on the left side and gets up and down very quickly.
5

alfromcol added 15:57 - Jan 11
I think an average RB would be an improvement!
0

Seasider added 15:59 - Jan 11
Oh dear,he lets Jonny Parr go,or he wanted to go as' Mr Hoof' never played him;and now we are looking at one of Micks old favorites,who is now over 30,to take his place.

Still he wont cost us much,as he hasn't had a club this season;so no fee and low wages .

Ambition NIL
4

carsey added 16:13 - Jan 11
I think we can safely say Foley is in if McCarthy is calling him Foles and calling him different class coupled with the fact he is Irish and played for him at Wolves.
I said the other day that McCarthy is like Keane in many ways - one I forgot was the fact he likes to sign all his former players who are now old and knackered and pretty much out of work.
Where is the ambition where is the desire to play football where has Ipswich Town Football Club disappeared to?
Yes McCarthy saved our ar$e$ a couple of years ago and for that I am grateful but hanging around the top 6 in the 2nd division is not where we want to be and this style won't get us promoted or if by some miracle it does it won't keep us up!!
5

sidtheswan added 16:34 - Jan 11
Don't get me excited . A proper right back there's a novelty . Maybe MM woke up and smelt the coffee .
0

Currie10 added 16:47 - Jan 11
Ah the forum in absolute positive overdrive, one clubs waste is anothers gold that's how footy works.

Wolves fans didn't rate Berra.

I wish at times we'd show a bit of ambition and spend a fair penny but with that goes the wages which could upset the wage structure so it's difficult.
4

Eireannach_gorm added 16:59 - Jan 11
I am not quite sure what relevance Foley's nationality is. Clearly the fact that he played for Mick before means that he knows what he is getting. While I am disappointed at Parr's imminent departure, picking up an experienced full back for small money is a no brainer.
3

Bluetone added 17:26 - Jan 11
McCarthy's style of play dull, dire and dour and more of the same to come.
3

jas0999 added 17:46 - Jan 11
Oh dear, if Parr leaves and we replace with Foley it really does demonstrate our ambition in the transfer market or indeed lack of it. A 31 year old who isn't match fit, to replace Parr.
1

runningout added 18:05 - Jan 11
Our defence is the softest and slowest in the Championship.. It will be our downfall if not adjusted.. as for our U21's form. Embarrassing!
-1

battyblue added 18:39 - Jan 11
MM on the phone...Hi there Foles you not had a team to play for this season ,no worries mate you can come and get a game me at Ipswich i know you have a good hoof on you so thats all it takes really and i have just got rid of that Jonny Parr who kept trying to play the ball on the grass and he thought he could get in my team with those tactics bloody arse.
1

blues1 added 18:55 - Jan 11
Jas, and was parr match fit? No, because he was always injured so never really totally match fit. Foley is a decent right back and while not an exciting signing would be a decent addition.the beat. Should know better than to listen to wolves fans. They're hardly goñna say he was great are they? Just as forest fans reckoned both chambers and mcgoldrick were rubbish when we signed them
0

thebeat added 19:17 - Jan 11
Parr always being injured is a total myth. Check the stats
As ive said before the facts prove our best spell last season was when Parr was at rightback with Chambers inside. 3 in midfield with Parr and Mings pushing on and we played some great football aswell.
Maybe that was the problem tho.......
2

Langdon_Blue added 19:18 - Jan 11
I don't think his age is an issue...he's younger than Daryl Murphy and no-one seems to think he is over the hill just yet. Mick will know exactly what he is signing, so less of a gamble than the younger players.
1

deano85 added 20:14 - Jan 11
I love this comment above:
"hanging around the top 6 in the 2nd division is not where we want to be"
Actaully for s team in the second tier, thats EXACTLY where you want to be...
And maybe people are forgetting that... We are in the top 6
So what is all tge fuss about here, we have sold a player who was acting as backup (although notice lack of conformation on this yet...)
And bought in another for free as backup.... Id imagine he is on less wages than parr so freeing up maybe...?
Maybe mm has someone else in the pipeline i dont know, but a freebie cant hurt hey?
1

Warkys_Tash added 23:56 - Jan 11
Blues1. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, Bluelady & you have yours. It doesn't mean we have to agree.

My opinion for what it is worth, differs to your & is that Knudssen isn't up to the standard, lacks pace & never puts in a decent cross. However, I will continue to encourage as all fans should do & I hope he does make this miraculous improvement & prove me wrong - but I very much doubt it.

However, Parr for another freebie who was playing in a poor league until,now represents another 'Coke' type signing. Back-up that won't complain at getting 2-3 appearances a season.
0


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