Ipswich Town have signed 18-year-old Trevoh Chalobah on loan from Chelsea. Stuart Watson looks at some of the young talent at Paul Hurst’s disposal.
TREVOH CHALOBAH
Town have fought off a lot of competition to land the highly-rated 18-year-old on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
He’s a serial winner at youth level, silverware claimed in the UEFA Youth League, FA Youth Cup (twice) and U18 Premier League title with his club, as well as a European U19 Championship with England.
Yet to make his first team debut, he was named among the substitutes as Antonio Conte’s men won the FA Cup Final against Manchester United back in May. And such is his growing reputation that Gareth Southgate invited him to train with the Three Lions prior to the World Cup.
His older brother Nathaniel had a real impact in the Championship at the same age when loaned from Chelsea to Watford back in 2012.
Capable of playing centre-back or central-midfield, he’ll have ambitions of nailing down a regular starting spot.
ANDRE DOZZELL
The recently-turned 19-year-old be looking to make up for lost time following a lost year to that cruel cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in the season-opener against Birmingham last August.
That blow came just weeks after he played a key role in England winning the European U19 Championships.
There was hype surrounding the son of former Town favourite Jason long before his fairytale goal-scoring first debut at the age of 16 back in April 2016.
The sky is the limit for a cultured midfielder who is a real student of the game, though perhaps we shouldn’t expect too much too soon after so long out.
TRISTAN NYDAM
Feisty, versatile and positive on the ball, Nydam will now be looking to really kick-on following an encouraging breakthrough season at first team level.
His 14 starts and six sub appearances came in a variety of roles, ranging from left-back, left-midfield, holding midfield and No.10. Time will tell if he remains used as a utility man.
Could well be heading to the European U19 Championships in Finland at the end of next month along with...
FLYNN DOWNES
Really took his chance with both hands after replacing the injured Dozzell, taking to Championship football like a duck to water.
An all-action midfielder who thumps into tackles and looks to drive forwards when he has the ball, the rigours of senior football, understandably, caught up with both him and Nydam a little bit midway through the campaign.
Will have really benefitted from an end-of-season loan spell at Luton where, playing at the base of a diamond in Nathan Jones’ enterprising side, he helped the Hatters seal automatic promotion in League Two.
JOSH EMMANUEL
The barrel-chested right-back, 20, made 13 starts for Town in 2016/17 before spending the entirety of last season on loan at League One side Rotherham.
He was a regular starter as the Millers earned promotion via a Play-Off Final win against Hurst’s Shrewsbury and was named the South Yorkshire club’s Young Player of the Year.
Will hopefully return to Portman Road with a few of his defensive raw edges rounded off.
MYLES KENLOCK
The homegrown left-back, 21 has never looked out of place in the first team but, despite now having 41 senior appearances to his name, has never really had a lengthy run in the side.
With Jonas Knudsen away on World Cup duty with Denmark, he’ll be looking to catch Hurst’s eye in the early stages of pre-season.
BEN FOLAMI
Mick McCarthy says he never doubted the Australian forward’s ability, but was always banging on to him about being more physical.
The 19-year-old himself admitted the penny finally dropped and he was rewarded with first team chances towards the back end of last season.
He never looked out of place in those games against Millwall, Barnsley, Aston Villa and Reading and, as a result, was rewarded with a three-year pro deal.
Quick and direct, he can play wide or up top. The door may be open for him following David McGoldrick’s departure.
BARRY COTTER
The 19-year-old, who arrived from Irish side Limerick for a nominal fee back in January, produced a stunning debut playing right wing-back against Barnsley.
A larger than life character who oozes confidence on and off the pitch, he could well put pressure on Jordan Spence and Josh Emmanuel for a starting spot.
CONOR MCKENDRY
The 19-year-old Northern Ireland youth international will be trying to persuade Paul Hurst that he can provide an internal solution when it comes to the search for wingers.
A diminutive, direct-running player with a low centre of gravity, he scored four goals in one Under-23s game last season.
BEN MORRIS
Was prolific as a striker for the U18s and continued to chip in with goals when used more out wide for the U23s last season.
The 18-year-old worked his socks off on full league debut against Forest. Should be inspired by Folami’s progress.
AARON DRINAN
The 20-year-old Irishman is still waiting for his first taste of senior football after arriving from Cork City at the start of this year.
A proper No.9 who can do a bit of everything up top, he scored eight goals in 12 games for the U23s. Could persuade Hurst he is a viable back-up option to Joe Garner if it’s to be a lone striker system.
SHANE MCLOUGHLIN
Versatile Irishman, 21, started out as a forward/winger, but ended up primarily in central midfield for the U23s last season and played a few games at right-back. His versatility could prove to be a blessing or a curse as he seeks a first-team breakthrough.
Provided an assist on his senior debut against Middlesbrough under Bryan Klug’s caretaker management.
CHRIS SMITH
The centre-back, 20, has captained the U23s and will have developed greatly during a loan spell at promotion-chasing National League South side Chelmsford City.
Would have been handed his first-team debut by Klug had it not been for a back injury.
LUKE WOOLFENDEN
The tall and quick defender, 19, was Town’s man-of-the-match in the gallant Carabao Cup defeat at Crystal Palace last August, keeping flying sub Andros Townsend very quiet.
Was then a regular during a loan spell at promotion-chasing National League side Bromley before an end-of-season recall saw him start in a Town back three for that 4-0 win at Reading.
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