Town boss Mick McCarthy believes midfielder Grant Ward is a Premier League player of the future, the 22-year-old having made an impressive start to the season.

The Blues manager says Ward, who has already notched up three assists during 2017/18, including two in the 4-3 win at Millwall, has been a successful addition ever since he made his remarkable debut at half-time during the 4-2 opening day win against Barnsley at the start of August 2016 having joined from Spurs for an initial £600,000.

”Wardy's been a good player from his debut, three goals, a hat-trick in his first game,” McCarthy reflected.

“He really is a good player and if you look at the ones we’ve spent a reasonable sum of money on, they’ve been successes - him, the two lads we’ve got from Scotland, Garns and Waggy, Webbo, the ones that we’ve spent a few quid on, they’ve been really successful pretty much, although Webbo’s been injured.

“If you sign them and you spend a few quid you can be a bit more subjective and you know a bit more about them than when you’re taking them on Bosmans and frees.

“He’s been a real success, Wardy, and I think he’s a Premier League player in the making without a doubt.”

Having played most of his games wide on the right last season, Londoner Ward has featured centrally this season.

McCarthy says he was well aware of Ward’s versatility when he signed brought him to Portman Road.

“When he came he quite clearly came as a wide player but I knew he’d played in behind the frontman," he continued.

"I remember Sparky [former Town U21s coach Mark Kennedy] coming back having watched him play in an U21s game and he’d been really impressed.

“He’d played a full-back for Rotherham, so he’s quite versatile, and he’s played in midfield and he’s done well for me in midfield, wherever he’s played.

“He’s not played full-back, I think we’ve stuck him at wing-back once when we were playing during a game, but he’s played wide right, he’s played centre midfield, he’s played in behind the frontman. He’s a good player.”

Speaking to the media recently Ward revealed he’d also played as a centre-half during his time in the Tottenham youth set-up, where he played under Town’s academy head of player development, Bryan Klug, although McCarthy is sceptical regarding that particular string to his bow.

“Don’t believe him! He’s headed a few balls recently so now he thinks he’s a centre-half,” he joked.

Despite having made a scouting trip to Sweden last Sunday, McCarthy admits he prefers to look at signing players such as Ward, Webster, Garner and Waghorn who have Championship experience rather than recruiting from foreign leagues.

“I’d say that’s my preference because I think players [coming from abroad] take a long time to settle,” he said. “They can, but we just don't have the time to bring them in and develop them.

“Jonas Knudsen has got better from being in here and we’ve been delighted with him and if we can get any more like him I’d be thrilled.”

With prices for British players currently sky high, can you sometimes get better value in signings made from abroad?

“I’m sure you do but we’ve got six or eight scouts around, we don’t have anybody in Europe as such,” he added.

“We will look at Wyscout, we’ve got contacts, we’re not a team that’s got a scout in France, a scout in Holland, a scout in Germany, a scout in Belgium.

“We’ve got good contacts, word of mouth, Wyscout, we can punch data in and it’ll throw up all the players we might be interested in who cost nowt and don’t want paying, and there’s not many of them on there, I have to be honest.

“No, I’m joking, you can put the data in and you can find [the type of player you’re after]. If you want a winger that puts loads of crosses in of a certain value, you can do that.

“So we look at that and if we see anybody we’ll send somebody to watch. But I’ve always preferred what I know and what I get out of them, to be honest.”

The Championship has a reputation for being a league unlike any other and McCarthy believes there’s no substitute for experience of the division when recruiting.

“I’m not knocking others or lads from Europe or any other country because there are some really good players that come in, but if you’re going and buying them, if you’re taking free transfers and Bosmans from Europe, I’d pretty much back my judgement on the ones who have played in the league,” he said.

“Kevin Bru’s been a particularly good one for us on a Bosman. But I’d take the ones who have had league experience over and above if that’s the kind of player that we’re looking for.”

Photo: TWTD

mightytown added 19:38 - Aug 24 lol ''we can punch data in and it'll throw up all the players we might be interested in who cost nowt and don't want paying, and there's not many of them on there, I have to be honest.''
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cat added 19:47 - Aug 24 mightytown- agree, lol! that's some scouting network we have. If he had of said that a month ago he'd been slaughtered on here. Amazing what a couple of good signings and a winning start to the season brings. Like MM said last week, the fans are indeed fickle!!! (Not me though) lol
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StellaSaturdays added 19:49 - Aug 24 Hello to all my fans out there just want to start by saying thank you you've been amazing to me on my journalism journey. I know it's been a while but i'm back again and i'm excited i don't mind telling ya i've had a bath, put a load on and i'm really looking forward to it boy. Now i must say i've known old Wardy for a few years now and he is a triffic footballer you know and i think he's ready to replace the likes of chris skuse in the middle there you know i don't mind saying he's been good over the years and you know he's good quality still but just lacking that cutting edge like my wardy boy has in the middle there. But ill be there saturday you know i haven't missed a game since 1942 and i'm still going strong you know few stellas down me pie hole and i'm away. My prediction for the towen saturday is probably similar to most people's i would say, tight game with both defences looking stubborn and keepers in good form so i'm going to go for a 3-3 draw on this one. I'm usually pretty spot on with these you know and mother has gone for a 2-1 win i must add! anyway to all my fans out there now i'm a phenomenomenom it's good to speak to you all again and hopefully old wardy scores a hat trick saturday and knock em on the head ! Cheerio Stuart x

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shakytown added 19:51 - Aug 24 Was kept out of the side last season by different class Douggie and now he is a premier league player. LOL.
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runningout added 20:07 - Aug 24 would hope and I believe we have more than a few so called premier league players.. Slightly meaningless as there some below average players in premier league teams.. Slightly bothered we don't have scouts milling about Europe. There are good players in places like the Croatian league that cannot be judged by stats
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cat added 20:16 - Aug 24 StellaSaturdays - think it's more of the case of Stellathurdays, bizarre!! but interesting post!
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Mark added 20:20 - Aug 24 Given how expensive players are in England and how much good players can be sold for, it might be worth investing in some European scouts. I am sure we used to do that and, as we know, many of Ipswich's top players over the years have come from Europe, especially Holland.
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BlueMachines added 22:15 - Aug 24 Strange how he talks Bru up but wants rid. And there is loads on here that swear he is a straight talking bloke!!
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TimmyH added 08:27 - Aug 25 After Ward's good start to last season he then went AWOL for a few months - I think this is Mick trying to build his confidence. In my opinion he's got some way to go yet.
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BLUEBEAT added 10:39 - Aug 25 Ward was a Premier League player before he came here.
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whosroundisitanyway added 14:38 - Aug 25 TimmyH What is your opinion actually based upon? Have to ask you, do you attend any games?
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BlueBlood90 added 14:48 - Aug 25 Ward's been class since moving into the middle of midfield. He has the ability to drive forward with the ball and get us up the pitch without the need to hoof it. Three assists so far is very promising. He can also cover when McGoldrick picks up knocks in the no.10 role When we've got Huws/Adeyemi back. Putting a decent side together at the moment. Just hope Mick doesn't fall back into his old ways.

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milliem added 18:42 - Aug 25 @whosroundisitanyway - TimmyH reads Phil Ham's reports and forms his opinions from those. It's a lot cheaper and saves having to visit Ipswich.
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cat added 19:27 - Aug 25 Who's.... & Milliem "the dream team" 😂 AKA The Bleater @ Carrot boy respectfully!! No denying it Milliem, you know it, I know it and so does everyone else on here!!!! Enjoy the game tomorrow, beware of them nasty & very naughty Millwall boys 😂😂😂
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TimmyH added 22:40 - Aug 25 Forgot milliem your the biggest supporter on this site, you've been going to home and away games for decades which allows you to call other people 'budgies' or North Essex supporters or what ever spouts from your mouth...your just silly - you've only been on this site a few weeks but you've got a name for yourself already (sadly not a good one). whosroundisitanyway - based on seeing him last season (admittedly not every game) but if you kept your eyes open last season which at times was not easy to do you would know this!

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Seasider added 23:56 - Aug 25 Should like to see Ward,Celina and Downes in midfield tomorrow. What no Skusey,some would say.well not after having diarrhoea and sickness,which Mick says is debilitating. He has played Skuse and Chambers before when they are not completely fit.Shouldn't need to leave it until the last minute,and then ask Cole who is bound to say he is ok. Instead should leave him out for one game(at least).It never did any harm last week without Chambo playing as kept a clean sheet,and as Fulham are strong in midfield feel we need 3 players who are 100%.

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cat added 12:33 - Aug 26 Whosletthesidedown & Carrot boy (lol) what's the matter, cat got your tongue?????????
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