IPSWICH Town might end up having a 35-year-old strike force – of two players, not one!

IPSWICH Town might end up having a 35-year-old strike force – of two players, not one!

It is certainly possible that 17-year-old Josh Carson, Town’s new find, could be handed a role in support of natural centre-forward Connor Wickham over the coming months, and hopefully years.

Wickham celebrates his 18th birthday today.

Town boss Paul Jewell revealed yesterday that he would consider the prospect of playing his two brightest teenage stars together, in an attacking role, with Carson operating just behind Wickham.

Teenage starlet Carson has spent most his fledging career across the midfield, and he made his surprise first team debut in Town’s last game, a 2-0 home win over Scunthorpe, on the flank.

But as well as playing as a central midfielder, or wide man, Carson also has the potential to play off a big striker, with Wickham the obvious candidate.

“Josh could play up front, he could play off a big man,” admitted Jewell.

“It is possibly something that we might consider doing.

“Josh has a lot of strings to his bow. He can play up front, he can play on the right, he can play in midfield, and he can be an attacking midfielder.

“He is going to be a good player, and it (first team football) doesn’t faze him. He wants to win, and he doesn’t hold back. He’s a tough little kid, which is nice to see.

“He has a touch of cockiness about him. He’s hungry, he’s got two good feet and he is strong.

“In fact Josh has been a big bonus. We have got one or two in the Academy who I think are going to be decent players.”

Wickham has rarely been out of the spotlight, after bursting onto the first-team as Town’s youngest ever debutant nearly three years ago. He was crowned the Football League’s Young Player of the Year 10 days ago, and played his first full 90 minutes for England Under-21s against Iceland on Monday.

Carson, by contrast, is just starting out on the road to stardom. He is in the Northern Ireland Under-19 squad for next month’s double header against Slovakia.

“I think it is unfair to compare the two of them,” continued Jewell.

“One is 6ft 3ins (Wickham) and one is 5ft 2ins (Carson), and both have got different strengths.

“Connor has played at England international under-21 level, and he’s talked about as being a Premier League footballer.

“Josh has probably just come under the radar a little bit. He’s a different type of player,” added Jewell.