Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has revealed that teen striker Jack Marriott is set to join non-league side Woking on a one-month loan.

The 19-year-old – who scored 26 goals for the club’s Under-18 and Under-21 sides last season – was compared to a ‘young Michael Owen’ by team mate David McGoldrick last week.

McCarthy has spoken positively about the way Marriott has performed in first team training, admitting that the youngster has a ‘happy knack of scoring’.

Having been an unused substitute on three occasions this season, Marriott – who made his first team debut as a substitute at Burnley on the final day of last season before being handed a professional deal – is now back down to fifth in the strikers’ pecking order following the return of Paul Taylor from a loan spell at Peterborough.

Woking are currently 21st in the Blue Square Premier having scored just one goal in their last five games. The Surrey side’s next game is at home against Dartford next Tuesday.

Speaking to the club website last Wednesday, Marriott – who scored both goals in a 2-2 Under-21s draw at Swansea on Monday – said: “The gaffer and TC (Terry Connor) seem to be pleased with me so that’s good.

“I’ve been on the bench a few times and been involved in the squad and it’s been a great learning curve for me.

“My game has always been about scoring goals but I know I’ve got to work on improving other areas. The gaffer and TC have been doing that in training.

“Didsy (McGoldrick) and Murph (Daryl Murphy) have been great with me as well and are always giving me bits of advice. I have taken what they have said on board.

“I’ve just got to keep working hard and wait for my chance. I was warming up the whole of the second half against Bolton, eager to get on and trying to catch the gaffer’s eye. Hopefully, if I’m called upon, I can do a job for the team.”

Mccarthy said: “He’s a goalscorer, definitely, but he’ll be going out on loan.

“I’m pleased with what I’ve got at the moment. I think he will be ready for the first team eventually, but we’ve just brought Tayls back – we paid a lot of money for him and seen what he can be, so he’s higher up the pecking order.

“Like everyone, we’ve got a really serious Christmas time with games. If he (Marriott) can go out and play six or seven games at a competitive level, because the Under-21 games don’t have that edge, then it would serve us well coming into Christmas.”