Town interim manager John McGreal has praised youngster Cameron Humphreys, who made his league debut off the bench at Charlton on Tuesday, and has outlined his role with the U23s which he started last Thursday prior to being handed his current temporary position running the first team.

Humphreys, 18, made his senior debut from the start of the Carabao Cup tie against Newport in August, having been with the squad throughout pre-season, but didn’t feature for the first team again until he came off the bench against Barrow in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The central or left-sided midfielder, who can also operate at left-back, impressed against the Bluebirds and almost won the tie with a late header which struck the bar, and was again included in the 18 at the Valley and came on in the 83rd minute.

“The boy’s talented,” McGreal said. “We’ve got to try and get him opportunities as best we can.

“Coming back down into the U23s, when that happens, it’s mine and Kieron [Dyer]’s job to try and get these boys and shine the light on them because Ipswich Town fans love an up and coming youngster, it’s proved over the years gone by, they do love it, and it’s our job to try and get them through because they need opportunities.

“That’s the big thing, you don’t know how good they are until they get the opportunities and it’s our job to make them up to that standard, if not go beyond the standard of the first team, to get that opportunity and he’s been proving that of late.”

Reflecting on the U23s job, he had been in for only a few days prior to his elevation to the senior set-up, he added: “Speaking to the guys and the project that they want to bring to the club, the U23s and the IDP [Individual Development Plan] are going to be a huge part of the club moving forwards.

“The history of the place coming through from U23 level in years gone by from Kieron right the way through to your Darren Bents, your Darren Ambroses, just to mention a few, James Scowcroft, Richard Wright — there's been loads of them. Even now with Andre Dozzell and Flynn Downes.

“It's our job to bring the next batch through and I'm passionate about that, giving kids opportunities.

“That was my role at Colchester from the academy when I was U23s manager. And I was lucky enough to get the manager’s job at Colchester for four years and we had to make pathways for kids coming through.

“Like your Macauley Bonnes, your Kane Vincent-Youngs, Sammie Szmodics and Frankie Kent, just to mention a few.

“The boys have all come through when I was there and it is a big part of what Colchester was about and what [chairman and owner] Robbie [Cowling] wanted as a big brief for the manager.

“So I've been there before, I know what it is to get kids in and around the first team and to get them opportunities. So I'm really looking forward to it, bringing that next good batch through.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Linkboy13 added 16:58 - Dec 9 We just are not producing enough outstanding youngsters good one's yes. We've in league one so it shouldn't be that difficult. The likes of Keiron Dyer, Darren Bent etc were outstanding from the word go in a much more competitive league. Really feel for John Mcgreal at the moment trying to run a first team where it's obvious some of them have downed tools. He must pick the players that are fully committed no matter what their ability is.

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PortmanTerrorist added 17:30 - Dec 9 Sorry Linkboy13 cannot agree. Reality is we have thrown our better youngsters into awful teams, with pedestrian players at the wrong ends of their careers, and expected them to carry the team in recent years. They have been harshly judged accordingly. Putting injuries to one side, I have to believe that had (e.g.) Lankester moved into a progressive, winning team he would have slotted in just fine, found his feet and become a 1st team regular in no time. Burley has the best track record of anyone with youth, but he was always able to integrate them into teams with good, winning ethic. We have thrown away a generation at Paul Cooks behest for this 'new' team, and so staying on a theme, do we really think Edwards is better than Lankester?! At least Lankester is young enough to improve and gain consistency....just not for us. Hopefully we get both sides of this Youth policy right going forward and it helps with JM in the building along with Keiran.

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budgieplucker added 20:57 - Dec 9 This lad is special. Tackles & presses like Flynn Downes, but much much more talented, passes sweetly with some of the better qualities of Dozzell as well and has an awareness of what's going on around him. Has the ability to switch roles and look completely comfortable in each as if it's his natural position. Is not fazed at all by the big stage and looks like he enjoys and is really motivated by playing in this arena. In my view at the moment he is every bit as good as the lad we sold to Norwich and has the potential for being far more versatile and better. I would be feeding him crazy and having him do extra gym work to lose that 15 year old schoolboy figure. I am as you can tell really excited by this lad and I would have him around the first team for the rest of the season. Not wanting to knock another youngster and acknowledge Bailey Clements hasn't done a bad job when he has come in but Bailey to me does still at times look like a rabbit in the headlights. Whilst I think Bailey may go on to become another Miles Kenlock, I would certainly try Cameron in the left back role for the first team if not left side of midfield.

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Linkboy13 added 22:56 - Dec 9 Portman terrorist Lankester cant get in the Cambridge team and is on the bench every week and can't really be classed as a young prospect any longer. Dobra is another one of our overhyped youngsters and should be playing first team football at Ipswich by now. Simpson is one player who is showing promise at Swindon but i wouldn't class him as a youngster any longer. Paul Cook had his faults but was prepared to give players a chance if they worked hard as he did with Clements.

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