Blues manager Mick McCarthy says striker Ben Morris isn’t yet ready to feature for the first team but hopes the 17-year-old will be at some stage this season.

McCarthy watched as England U18 international Morris scored his fourth U23s goal of the season and picked up two assists as Gerard Nash’s side beat Hull City 3-1 at Playford Road on Monday afternoon.

“It’s a lot easier scoring at the level he’s scoring at, he’s not playing in the Championship,” McCarthy pointed out.

“Of course, I might hear people scream, ‘Well, you never know unless you play them’. Well, give me half a chance, I might have a little bit of experience in picking players and picking teams and judging whether they are ready to play.

“And hopefully at some stage in the season he will be ready to play. He trains with us on a regular basis and that’s where I see him.

“He’s certainly been playing better and I thought in the U23s game at Portman Road against Leeds when he scored twice [in a 4-0 victory] he was terrific.”

Morris, who is in the second year of his academy scholarship and signed a two-year professional contract in July, was on the bench for the EFL Cup tie against Stevenage in August, his only involvement in a matchday 18 so far.

Photo: TWTD

muccletonjoe added 21:42 - Oct 14 Morris is still a minor
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ChestnutSe added 10:09 - Oct 15 I assume he got a 2 year deal because Mick and the other coaches rate him and think he has a decent chance of making it into the first team. Just cos Mick has 40 odd years experience of playing and managing at the top level what makes him think he knows better than the fans when the lad should be in the first team?
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ipswichtillidie added 12:09 - Oct 15 Sick of listening to this arrogant, stubborn relic. He's not ready now but maybe in a few months?! What a load of contradictory BS.
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