Town have taken up the one-year option on right-back Josh Emmanuel’s contract.

The 21-year-old academy graduate signed a three-year deal in November 2016 which included the option for a further season.

Emmanuel, who has spent time on loan at Rotherham and Shrewsbury in the last two seasons, has recently alternated with loanee James Bree for the right-back spot.

Manager Paul Lambert said a fortnight ago that he expected the additional year to be taken up - “Yeah, I do” - having been pleased with the one-time West Ham schoolboy’s displays since he returned from his loan spell with the Shrews in January.

“Josh has done well, I think he still needs a good bit of coaching but he’s a young lad that will learn, so I think Josh has done well enough to be here," he said.

“I don’t see a problem with that, I think we still need someone to push and vice versa he might need to push somebody else, so it’s an area I think we need to look at.”

Photo: TWTD

shakytown added 01:34 - May 2 Needs to improve but then again that can be said for every single player at the club. Hope he and the rest of the kiddies do make the necessary gains or we are in serious danger of another relegation.
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BigHibbs added 01:35 - May 2 Not good enough to play in the modern game as a full back in the championship as you need to be able to defend and offer 4/5 goals a year. Also dribbling well and delivering good balls, like the two kids at Norwich, or Barry Douglas at Leeds. Emmanuel and Kenlock don't offer that. Not to say they won't improve from a year in league 1. Is Kenlock a free in the summer ?
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ArnieM added 05:48 - May 2 I suspect Josh and Cotter ( if the latter sorts his arrogant head out) could be our two Right backs in competition with one another, but I get the feeling Cotter will only get one chance next season mainly due to his appalling billy big bollox attitude . We'll see .
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ArnieM added 05:51 - May 2 BigHibbs: your observations regarding right and left backs may well be true. However Knudsen certainly didn't offer those attributes - and he IS on a virtual free this summer!
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runningout added 08:45 - May 2 Hard not to be negative after worse season in history. I'm afraid we need complete makeover and not potential
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Bergholtblue added 09:26 - May 2 Lightning boy..... It would have been quicker just to write "new team".
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TimmyH added 11:43 - May 2 Probably agree with this. he hasn't really had a run of games in the first team. It will be a big season coming up for him and many of our younger players brought up through the youth set up.
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Edmundo added 14:41 - May 2 We have to be brave next season, and maybe keep some of the "maybe" Championship players, like Josh. PL might need to use a second string outfit for the Mickey Mouse Paint Cup and we will take the hit of a fine. The League has to be everything next season, with an FA or League Cup run a nice to have.
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