Ipswich Town have a ‘young Michael Owen’ in their midst in the form of teen striker Jack Marriott.

That’s according to fellow Blues front man David McGoldrick, who has been very much impressed with the way the 19-year-old has integrated into first team training this season.

Academy graduate Marriott was handed his first professional contract in the summer after a prolific goalscoring record throughout the age groups, including 26 for the Under-18s and Under-21s last season.

Marriott scored twice more for the U21s yesterday, in a 2-2 draw at Swansea, with McGoldrick now comparing him to former England and Liverpool striker Owen – the man who memorably burst onto the international scene as a teenager at the 1998 World Cup.

“Jack is a goalscorer,” said McGoldrick. “He’s a poacher; he’s like a young Michael Owen. If he’s got his back to goal he tries to do a 180 degree turn and shoot, even if he’s got a defender behind him.

“He just wants to score goals which is a great asset to have and I think he’s got a future in the game.

“He’s training with us every week, he’s a real polite boy and he’s working hard. He’s listening to what the strikers have got to say to him and I think he’ll have a good career if he keeps his head down.”

Having made his first team debut as a substitute on the final game of last season, Marriott was an unused substitute on three occasions recently.

The return of Paul Taylor from a loan spell at Peterborough has seen him slip back down to fifth in the strikers’ pecking order though, with McCarthy keen to send him out on loan to gain some first team experience.

“He’s available if somebody wants him,” said the Blues boss. “If somebody has seen him and fancies him in the lower leagues there’s potential for that.

“He says to me he understands (why he’s not playing). I spoke to him the other day and he’s absolutely thrilled to be in the position he’s in. He’s training with the first team and travelling with the first team. Of course he wants to play, but he’s delighted with the progress he’s making.

“He’s certainly got that happy knack of scoring.”

Town first choice front two of McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy have scored 10 goals between them in 14 league games so far.