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Futcher: Delap's a Top Number Nine and He's Going to Keep Developing
Saturday, 12th Oct 2024 10:23

England U21s interim manager Ben Futcher praised Blues striker Liam Delap for his performance in last night’s 2-1 victory over Ukraine at the Vitality Stadium and said he believes the 21-year-old will get even better.

Delap has made a strong start to life with Town in the Premier League following his £15 million move from Manchester City, netting four goals in his first seven top-flight matches for the club.

While he wasn’t on target in last night’s European Championships qualifier, he, along with Town teammate Omari Hutchinson, caused the visitors’ backline significant problems.

“He’s given their centre-halves a real rough night,” Futcher told Henry Winter. “Liam was an absolute handful. If you want to go and fight him, he'll match you. If you want to race him, he’ll win the race.

“He’s very difficult to deal with, he’s quick, he’s powerful, he’s in good form in the Premier League. Liam’s a top number nine and he’s going to keep developing.”

Delap will miss Tuesday’s final qualification game against Azerbaijan at Ashton Gate having been booked for dissent 10 minutes after half-time during last night’s match.

The former Manchester City striker relished his battle with the Ukraine defenders but Futcher says he needs to keep his combativity in check at times.

“It’s a good aggression,” former Lincoln and Bury defender Futcher continued. “I wouldn’t be trying to take any aggression out of him because that’s one of his major strengths. But he needs to learn to control it. He’s suspended for the next game now.”

Futcher, who took temporary charge of the U21s following Lee Carsley’s elevation to the senior side in the summer, added: “Ipswich are very fortunate to have such a good striker on their hands,”

Reflecting on the game in which his side came from a goal down to all but assure qualification for the finals in Slovakia next summer, he said: “Extremely proud because I thought for long periods we were very good.

“I thought we missed opportunities and gave a goal away from a set play. The more we go for it, the more it opens up. It was a tough shift for the lads, but as I said, we stuck at it and we got the two goals that were massive and the result was really important tonight.”


Photo: Jeremy Landey/Focus Images Ltd/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect



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bobble added 11:08 - Oct 12
Who is this bloke ?
0

Suffolkboy added 11:09 - Oct 12
Two ITFC young men of tremendous potential : seems certain KM will get the best out of them and they’ll get better and better — so long as injury doesn’t interfere !
COYB
7

Carberry added 11:34 - Oct 12
Really good news. I was sceptical about his arrival for so much money and so little experience but he seems to have taken to it like a duck to water.
Let's hope he can keep up the trajectory and become an established England International.
4

carlo88 added 11:42 - Oct 12
He'll miss Tuesday's game - best news of the night.
9

BotesdaleBlue added 12:35 - Oct 12
This is good to hear.

The noise is starting to build up around him I feel, but with young English strikers doing well in the Prem, this will always be the case. They are the most sought after players of the lot.
2

tractorboybig added 13:11 - Oct 12
wont be with us long then
-5

blues1 added 14:55 - Oct 12
Tractorboybig. Really? Unless behave fo sell for financial reasons or getcn offer we cant refuse, he'll be here for a few years yet.
0

Nomore4 added 16:12 - Oct 12
A better option than over rated Bellingham up front that’s for sure…..Carsley out!!!
0

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:56 - Oct 12
I'm sure the Chelseas, Spurs, and Newcastles of this world will be sniffing around already. Hope we can keep him.
0

SickParrot added 18:42 - Oct 12
As Ivan Toney has effectively ruled himself out of consideration for England, on current form Liam is only behind Kane and Watkins amongst the English centre forwards. He's a much better all round centre forward than Solanke.
1

TheRicardo94 added 20:37 - Oct 12
At least they played a striker in the U21s ... Hopefully Delap will be playing higher than U21s when that muppet Carsley goes back
0

armchaircritic59 added 00:44 - Oct 13
Watched the game live on my laptop. No doubts LD is a pain for defenders and he's still a bit " raw ". With a few of those rough edges smoothed out he should go on to have a very good career, let's hope it's at least mostly with us!

Thought OH did ok, he looks a " marked man " now.
0

TomCruise added 09:45 - Oct 13
Delap does look different gravy. We may have trouble holding on to him even if we stay up. Either way, if he gets sold he's easily going to go for 50 million.
0

Linkboy13 added 11:14 - Oct 13
We would be in big trouble if he got injured he's our only goal threat.
0

Monkey_Blue added 21:00 - Oct 13
We are not very fortunate to have Delap. We identified him and paid a lot of money for a lad who’s career has been on loan at championship clubs. That’s not fortune, that’s good recruitment.
0


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