Blues manager Kieran McKenna says young midfielder Idris El Mizouni is going to be an important member of the squad for the rest of the season.

The 21-year-old made his first appearance under McKenna at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday with the manager having previously said he had talked to the Tunisia international about going out on loan.

It’s understood a number of clubs showed interest in taking the Paris-born schemer for the second half of the season.

“We’re certainly to happy to have him and Idris is happy to be here,” McKenna said. “We spoke early in January about the possibility of him going out on loan.

“As we’ve said, the situation is fluid. We’ve had a couple of injuries and suspensions in that area of the pitch.

“Idris is a very strong player, a very versatile player, still a young player, who is improving, can be trusted to go in in any given game to do a job and to perform for the team.

“He’s been training very well, so when the opportunity came up for him to get minutes against Sheffield Wednesday, we had every confidence to put him in the team and I thought, especially coming in when he hasn’t played so much lately, I was happy with his performance and I think he’s going to be an important member of the squad for the rest of the season.

“We feel that he can contribute for us for the rest of the year but also for next season as well.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Suffolkboy added 16:58 - Feb 3 Lots of potential here for El M to develop physically ,and mentally and to improve his all round game ; certainly has the makings of a very strong intelligent contributor who might well prove very versatile . Good to see him well rated and wanted ! COYB
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grinch added 19:32 - Feb 3 some not going to like this but think currently he is too lightweight for league 1 always struggle in centre when he plays we cannot afford his luxury play at moment and he has not been creative really so would prefer others ahead of him. Boss was correct in trying to get him on loan he is one for the future but not this season
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Jonaldo added 05:22 - Feb 4 Considering we were trying to play a diamond with one holder (Bakinson) and one creative player (El Mizouni) I felt it did not work because Mizouni did not push on in the way that Morsy would have. In my opinion, Harper, a fit Nolan, or even Edwards (in a free role) would have complimented Bakinson quite well in that system. Not sure about El Mizouni's place in the squad in the long run.

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Edmundo added 09:43 - Feb 4 El Mizouni looked like the only player in the under 18s 3 or 4 years ago physically capable of "making it". He hasn't had enough games yet to judge imo, but will he ever get a run of games with Evans, Morsy, Bakinson/Harper ahead of him? Definitely more of a chance now the squad is down to a practical size.
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PortmanTerrorist added 10:23 - Feb 4 Judging him in a performance alongside a newbee in Bakinson, in a thrown together midfield is simply not fair. Has already shown how good he can be this season esp when played alongside someone experienced. Star of the future who will learn masses off Morsy and the Manager.
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Linkboy13 added 10:39 - Feb 4 Not sure what El Mizouni offers to the team. When he was playing for the u18s he had the ability to go past players but i haven't seen that yet. But there's still time 21 by Ipswich standards is classed as a young prospect.
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grow_our_own added 13:17 - Feb 4 Idris was one of our best performers vs Sheff Wed, much better than Bakinson. Early to judge both, but El Miz has constantly impressed so far, deserves moving up the pecking order IMO
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