Town won’t be releasing centre-half Elkan Baggott for an Indonesia U23s training camp this week with the 19-year-old required as cover for the first team, TWTD understands.

The PSSI, Indonesia’s FA, has named Baggott in a 29-man squad for the camp in South Korea being held as part of their preparations for the SEA Games in May.

But with George Edmundson currently out with an ankle injury, Baggott is next in line for the Town first team and has been on the bench for two of the last three matches.

The Blues are under no obligation to release a player for a camp outside an international window and the central defender will be remaining in Suffolk.

Town will, however, be making the Colchester-raised youngster available for a senior training camp being held in Indonesia from May 24th ahead of the Asian Cup qualifiers in Kuwait in June where they will face the hosts, Jordan and Nepal.

Baggott has previously won six full Indonesia caps, featuring regularly and scoring his first international goal at the AFF Suzuki Cup in January.

Born in Thailand to an English father and Indonesian mother, Baggott made his senior Blues debut in the Papa John’s Trophy tie against Gillingham in 2020/21, still his only appearance.

He signed his first professional contract with Town the same month, a deal which runs to 2023 with the club having an option to keep him for a further season.

Speaking earlier this month, manager Kieran McKenna said he has been impressed by Baggott.

“Elkan’s trained with us for the last six weeks or so, he’s been an important part of our training group, he’s player we really like,” he said.

“He’s been training with us, playing in all our behind closed doors or in-house games that we have and he’s a player we think highly of. Elkan’s been in and around the group for quite a period of time.”

McKenna added that he'd have every confidence should he be required to play Baggott or fellow U23s centre-halves Albie Armin or Cameron Stewart.

“Especially Elkan, who is obviously someone who has played international football, he’s played first-team games before in EFL Trophy,” he continued.

“Albie has played first-team games in the EFL Trophy, which I’ve watched back. Both of those boys in particularly have already played minutes and are well-known to the players in our squad and happy for both of them to contribute when the time arises.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Len_Brennan added 12:44 - Apr 6 We need to give a good prospect like Baggott some match time over the last 5 games, so this makes sense. I'd also like to see us experiment with a back 4 too; our defending has been great under McKenna & the back 3 have been excellent, but we need to be able to switch formations to make us more potent in attack when it's just not happening.
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Pablo_Counago added 13:21 - Apr 6 Hopefully he gets a run at some playing time over the last stretch of games. Excited to see how he's going to perform for us
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Bazza8564 added 13:33 - Apr 6 This lad is highly rated and I hope and pray he gets a shot. With 5 CB now in the squad and playing 3 it should mean hes going to get some time next season at the latest
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blues1 added 13:53 - Apr 6 Len Brennan. I agree with you about needing to be able to change the formation to make us more potent up front. However, that happened on Saturday against Cambridge, and frankly, we played worse after we went to 2 up front than when we had just the 1 up front.
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Len_Brennan added 14:29 - Apr 6 @blues1 So we need the practice I guess!!
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Edmundo added 16:36 - Apr 6 High Hope's he features for more than a few minutes this season.
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