Blues manager Mick McCarthy says young defender Chris Smith, who signed a new contract earlier in the week, “could be a first-teamer in the making” for the Blues.

Former Kesgrave High School pupil Smith, 20, put pen to paper on a new deal which runs to the summer of 2019 with the club having an option for a further year.

“What I like about him is that he’s gone out on loan to Chelmsford and really stood out,” McCarthy said. “For them he’s played well but when he’s come back and trained with us he looks like a bloke now.

“He came back far more assured, far more confident, he looked like a man training, he looked like one of the first-team players, just his size, the physical specimen of him.

“Whether he’s for the first team next year, I think he’ll continue to get better, he’s a centre-back, so you always continue to improve.

“I think that’s what will happen and hopefully next year for him, for his development he can get out and play in the league somewhere, League Two or League One, just make that step up. I think he could be a first-teamer in the making for Ipswich.”

Photo: TWTD

dav86 added 17:58 - Apr 5 And so was Tommy smith before you got rid of him
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carsey added 19:10 - Apr 5 Can't help remembering how young some of our greatest players were under Robson and Burley and asking why Smith and others aren't already in the squad if not the starting 11. Something to do with being a proper bloke?
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oldbri added 19:19 - Apr 5 Nick has already said he is leaving. The squad is far better than when he took over. Our league position is better than when he took over. Could we not get off his back and get behind the team.
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oldbri added 19:36 - Apr 5 That should have read Mick and not Nick. Sorry , fat fingers
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essextractorboy93 added 09:20 - Apr 6 Seen him play a couple of times this season at Chelmsford, looks to have real potential!
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jabberjackson added 13:21 - Apr 6 I'm no expert...but He's 20, if he's good enough he's old enough All this going to Chelmsford and Aldershot for a season doesn't seems to have worked for us If Mick was here next year no doubt he's ship off Folami and Morris to Luton and Braintree Just chuck them in for the odd game here and there It worked for Geddis, Butcher, Burley and countless others It even worked for Bishop Let's throw a bit of caution to the wind next year, in a controlled way, rwap the benefits, and feel like a football cub...again

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