Dylan Connolly is getting closer and closer to making his Ipswich Town first team debut.

So says Mick McCarthy, the Blues boss having been mightily impressed by the way the flying young winger has settled in following a recent switch from Irish side Shelbourne.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international top-scored for Shelbourne with 12 goals as the Dublin-based side earned promotion back to the top-flight in 2014.

Subsequently, he was the only player outside of the Premier Division to be nominated for Irish Young Player of the Year.

Asked if the youngster, who has been an unused substitute on four occasions, was close to making his Town debut, McCarthy said: “He is. I think Dylan’s going to be a really good player for us.

“He played up front for our Under-21s recently and did really well. I think he’s going to be a really good player, a good right-winger for us.”

McCarthy continued: “He’s very quick, very direct, brave with it – and I’m not talking brave physically, but brave with the ball in terms of the way he takes people on – and he’s a good supplier of crosses.

“It’s a big ask for him to come from Shelbourne and to star in a Championship side pushing for promotion, but I think he would be hard to handle for any left-back to be honest.”

Connolly has not been included among the Blues subs for the last two games – the 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough and 1-0 home win against Bolton.

Town, seventh in the Championship table with eight games to go, face league-leaders Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Then, after an international break, they host third-place Bournemouth at Portman Road on Good Friday.