CONNOR Wickham has thanked Paul Jewell for “giving him the chance” to shine at Portman Road.

CONNOR Wickham has thanked Paul Jewell for “giving him the chance” to shine at Portman Road.

Red-hot property Wickham has been a revelation under new boss Jewell, after struggling to hold down a place in the team under former boss Roy Keane.

The 17-year-old, who is contracted to Town until the summer of 2013 – and has no immediate plans to leave – is loving life under Jewell.

It is certainly no coincidence that having gone nearly six months without a goal this season, Wickham has suddenly begun to look like a top-class striker with five goals already under Jewell’s stewardship.

“Since the new manager has come in, there’s been a buzz around the dressing room,” revealed Wickham yesterday.

“He’s given me that chance.

“The managers that have come before have given me a chance as well, but now I’ve been playing every game, week in, week out, since he’s been here, and I’ve been scoring goals.

“So just he (Jewell) having the confidence in me, is giving me confidence. I know that there is a manager who, together with all the coaches and all the boys, are encouraging me.

“They are talking to me about my game every day, so all I can do is improve.

“I think now everyone is more relaxed about what they are doing.

“If we make a mistake in training, then we make a mistake, and we just have to rectify it in the games. You can only learn from mistakes.

“Everyone’s confidence is high, and you can see from what happens on the pitch that we’re performing better,” added Wickham, ahead of tomorrow’s tough trip to Cardiff City.