Town academy graduates have played nearly as many League One minutes as their counterparts at the six other clubs at the top of the division combined this season, according to Opta statistics.

Speaking after Tuesday’s game against Burton Albion manager Paul Lambert said “We’re the team in the division that’s had 26 per cent young players playing.”

Town have now given the context of that comment with the figure quoted drawn from an Opta statistic which shows that Town academy players account for 26.5 per cent of the Blues’ first-team minutes this season.

Town have had 10 academy graduates appear in their League One fixtures in 2020/21: Andre Dozzell, Teddy Bishop, Jack Lankester, Flynn Downes, Brett McGavin, Armando Dobra, Tyreece Simpson, Liam Gibbs, Luke Woolfenden and Myles Kenlock.

Dozzell, 21, has made most appearances, 15, and has played the most minutes, 1,332, among the 10 with only skipper Luke Chambers having played more, 1,620 minutes in 18 matches.

“It’s great long-term for the club and for the young ones that that they are getting so many games,” Lambert told the official website.

“There are some really good young players here. You have to be brave to throw them in when they are that age and we’ve done that.”

League One appearances only. Stats from Opta up to 17 December.

Photo: Matchday Images

positivity added 17:48 - Dec 18 while it's great to see and credit to the club/academy, he hasn't been that brave, many of them were forced. would be interested to see the figures for last year (and previous managers!)
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MrTown added 17:57 - Dec 18 We know the academy is the best thing at this club right now, and deserve full credit. But we need a good balance of youth & experience. I do think it one of the things Lambert has done to be fair, a lot of academy grads and getting appearances and minutes for the first team. Don't win you promotion to the Championship though does it. No doubt Lambert has told the club post this.

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Kropotkin123 added 18:27 - Dec 18 Well done Klug and the team. We'd be screwed without you.
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grow_our_own added 18:30 - Dec 18 Grow our own! Academy has always been the best thing at this club, just sometimes under-appreciated. One or two haven't been quite ready, and occassionally you feel Lambert is making a: "look at who I'm being forced to play" statement, but overall this is positive for the long-term well-being of the club.
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OwainG1992 added 18:38 - Dec 18 The fans for years clamoured for picking our own. Whatever you think Lambert has done that. This is why we need to get behind the lads. Dislike the manager or owner fine. But that's lads need our support.
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DifferentGravy added 19:05 - Dec 18 Great the younger players are coming through and some of them already showing they can hold their own. Far more to do with Klug, Academy and the injuries as oppose to manager taking a plunge. Be interesting to see how many make appearances when the injured players return and the Lamberteers get their mythical team that will be playing 'incredible football' apparently.

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alfromcol added 19:24 - Dec 18 The future's bright, the future is Academy.
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ChestnutSe added 19:34 - Dec 18 MrTown - you never win anything with kids. Just ask Man Utd 🥇
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Wacko added 20:28 - Dec 18 Has someone told Lambert that we're top of the wrong table?
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Europablue added 21:38 - Dec 18 It would be interesting to see the stats for the whole league. Football is all about local lads playing for the team. I don't really understand the attraction of a team full of overpaid foreigners, or even English players, with no roots to the local area playing for the local club in name only. How can you take pride in such teams?
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Monkey_Blue added 21:45 - Dec 18 Hurst seemed keen to have a side only of his signings plus some established players. If we can get up with this group and let's not forget the huge experience missing and we are still right in there, downes, Dozzell, Dobra, Woolfenden et al will become top championship players. Dozzell looks like a player made for the premiership to be fair.
3

cressi added 22:40 - Dec 18 Regards the man under comment you don't win anything with kids although they had good youngsters come through they also had Irwin, Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Keane, Yorke, Cole ,Sheringham Who were not youngsters plus other I can even think about oh van der sorry Kanchelskas etc etc
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cressi added 22:41 - Dec 18 Sorry man utd
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:14 - Dec 19 Klug is the understated giant of our club. He's probably had more influence on our success than anyone for so many years. But he just prefers to stay in the background and get on with the job he loves. Hats off x100, Bryan!!!
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Radlett_blue added 09:33 - Dec 19 While I don't rate Lambert, it is fair to say that Town have been hugely hampered by injuries this season. Please can someone show the same stats for last season, when Lambert claimed to be "playing the kids", when most of us felt this was b/s.
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Skip73 added 12:31 - Dec 19 Steve Sweden, While I agree that Klug is a great asset to the club, for the life of me I cannot think of any success whatsoever thos club has had.
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