FORMER Ipswich prodigy Jason Dozzell today urged Town's new kid on the block to keep his feet firmly on the ground. Teen starlet Liam Trotter has enjoyed plenty of attention after netting on his home debut in front of a bumper Portman Road crowd in Tuesday's derby match.

By Elvin King

FORMER Ipswich prodigy Jason Dozzell today urged Town's new kid on the block to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

Teen starlet Liam Trotter has enjoyed plenty of attention after netting on his home debut in front of a bumper Portman Road crowd in Tuesday's derby match.

His headed goal set the Blues on the way to a crucial 3-1 win over East Anglian rivals Colchester United.

But the 19-year-old has been given some words of wisdom from Dozzell, a man who knows a thing or two about dealing with the trappings of success at an early age.

Dozzell, currently managing Leiston in the Ridgeons League, was a bright-eyed 16-year-old schoolboy when he opened his Ipswich account in a home fixture with Coventry in 1984.

The goal wrote him into the history books as the youngest-ever player to score in the old first division.

The 39-year-old said: “I know Liam's mum and dad fairly well and he should listen to them and listen to the people at the club.

“He needs to work hard, because the Colchester match was just one game.

“It's easy to get into the squad - it's staying there which is another thing.

“But from what I have seen of Liam, I think he has a great chance to make it big.

“He's athletic, good on the ball and he's a big lad.”

Parallels have been drawn between the playing styles of Trotter and Dozzell, both goal-scoring midfielders, and Dozzell admitted: “A lot of people say he reminds them of me and I can see it a little bit.

“He has the same gangly run, and he likes to play football.”

More than 20 years have passed since Dozzell's dream debut, but he can still recall his record-breaking strike.

“I can remember the goal like it was yesterday,” said the former Chantry High School pupil.

“I had been on as a sub for quite a long time, I think I came on in the 29th minute, but I didn't score until the 89th.

“Terry Butcher had a free kick in our own half and he played it to John Wark who knocked it on and I slid in and it went in.

“I have pictures of the goal at home and my face is a real picture. I completely lost it.

“I look back now and a lot of it went over my head because I was so young. I was playing for Ipswich and then the next day I was back at school and having to do my homework.

“It was a massive thing for me and I have very fond memories of it.”