Blues boss Paul Lambert believes Myles Kenlock has a big future ahead of him but wants to see more of Josh Emmanuel with both young full-backs seeing their contracts come to an end in the summer. He also says he needs to see more of Tristan Nydam, whose deal runs to 2021.

Kenlock, 22, has started six of the last seven games and has impressed his manager, while Emmanuel, 21, hasn’t featured for the Town first team since the final day of 2016/17 having spent last season on loan at Rotherham and the first half of this campaign at Shrewsbury before returning in January.

Both players are out of contract come the end of the season but with the club having the option to keep them for a further year.

“Josh came back in January and he’s not played a game under us because it was a big, big ask to throw that kid in and let him go with it,” Lambert said when asked about the duo’s situations.

“Myles, I think has done great, I really think Myles has got a big future, the way he is. I think he’s 22 and at this moment he’s playing really well for us, really, really well.

“He came through the ranks, albeit a little bit later. And again, why would you want to let somebody go when you’ve nurtured them through and all of a sudden it’s, ‘See you later’ and then go and get a loan. It doesn’t add up. That’s what you have to try and stop.

“I think Kenlock’s been really good for us, really, really good for us and I think he’s going to get better. He’s going to get stronger, he definitely getting better with the ball, Myles.

“I think Josh, we have to see more of Josh. He’s another young kid who has come through the ranks.

“It’s an exciting time for young players, it really is and Josh is in that boat that we need to see more of him, whatever happens in the rest of the season we have a chance to maybe play him and let’s see what he can do.”

Another youngster Lambert says he needs to see more of is midfielder or full-back Nydam, who is currently sidelined with an injury having returned from his loan spell at St Johnstone in January.

“He’s hurt his back, Tristan,” Lambert added. “He’s another one we have to have a look at. I think he’s a really good footballer but he’s a young kid that we have to have a little look at.

“That’s why I always think it’s exciting here. I think it’s an exciting group of young players we’ve got, but they have to be given a chance or else there’s no point in having an academy.

“It doesn’t make sense. In 1981 this club had John Wark, [who had come] through, Eric Gates, Terry Butcher, Russell Osman, George Burley, Steve McCall, that was in 1981 and that grew into the one of the best teams in the era when I was growing up.

“This [current first-team squad] has got six, I’m not saying that to compare them with those lads whatsoever but there’s not been many times where you get a lot of guys coming through at the one time.

“But what’s the point of having an academy if you’re not going to utilise it or you’re not going to use them? It doesn’t make sense that.

“Sometimes you don’t need to recruit because they’re sitting under your nose. You’ve just got to have the nerve to play them.”

Photo: TWTD

Radlett_blue added 17:16 - Mar 7 Well, Paul, if you want to see more of Emmanuel, please start playing him in preference to Bree, who definitely won't be at the club next season.
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ArnieM added 17:20 - Mar 7 Lambert fully intends to mould and develop the Club's youngsters , and I'm really looking forward to seeing how this pans out. This will be a fantastic opportunity to any Young Town player on our books. It's up to these kids to grasp that opportunity with both hands ( and feet). Just imagine a young energetic side with a 3-4 senior players mixed amongst them. Cracking stuff!

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blueboy1981 added 17:27 - Mar 7 Kenlock has much to do to step up to League 1 next season - Emmanuel has a better chance in my opinion. For much of the time against Reading, Kenlock was like a rabbit in headlights - made it far too easy for Reading.
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Cloddyseedbed added 17:34 - Mar 7 What have Lancaster and Nydam done to injure their backs, what do they get up to? Do we train them too hard? Regarding Emmanuel, he's been out on loan twice and hasn't impressed that much has he. Kenlock also for the games he's played in hasn't impressed me that much. We need defenders who can defend, stop crosses going in, but are also confident to help overlap and attack. Do we have our own players who can do that or do we need to source others? The jury is still out for me.

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therein61 added 17:46 - Mar 7 We have had several exciting young prospects in the last 6 seasons who by and large never had a sniff of a game under big gob and his under performing shoe ins, with hope the crop we have in the building now will be given a chance by Lambert the future of our club is the young players who won't cost a cent to put in the side
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MichaelRockyLavelle added 17:47 - Mar 7 Emmanuel got Rotherham's young player of the season gong last year - as they got promoted to the Championship!!! If that's not "impressing" I'm not sure what is! @Cloddyseedbed He needs to be given a chance!! as he's big, strong, fast & good in the air & can put in a decent cross Whenever he's played for us (remember McCarthy played him 2 seasons ago for a fair few games) he's looked solid & very good - certainly better than Bree (who's looked a bit suspect at times) Kenlock is one that is great, but does make mistakes - personally I think he ought to be tried at LM/LW (LWB) as going forward he is decent and joins in with the attack well

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Pedlarjak added 18:30 - Mar 7 I would want to see far fewer crosses coming into our box - game after game - before expressing any level of satisfaction with our fullbacks.
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positivity added 18:39 - Mar 7 emmanuel's played a lot of games in 1.5 seasons in league one, more than capable of being in our squad next year, has moved forward with his loans.
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ITFCsince73 added 19:07 - Mar 7 therein61. As usual, totally agree. Strange no mention of Dozzell in this report. But it certainly wouldn't surprise me if he leaves this summer. For one reason or another it isn't and hasn't happened for him at ITFC. Considering Mick the Mouth stated start of last season that he saw him as a starter. I'm aware of the bad injury, but I would have expected a breakthrough upto this point, especially as we've been desperate for some quality throughout the season.

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blueboy1981 added 19:46 - Mar 7 ......... as far as injuries are concerned - some want to be Footballers, and Play - others just want to be Footballers .... !! Doesn't speak for all of course, but believe me it happens. And players know it.
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Terry_Nutkins added 10:07 - Mar 8 If you are in agreement with what therein61 says then you are happily ignoring reality. Another ridiculous dig at Mick. Fsir enough you dont like his brand of football but now to lie or just be completely ignorant of the facts which were Mick gave pretty much all these boys their chance and more game time then anyone else did (despite them being even younger at the time). He gave more youth players more mins then just about any other team in the championship. This IS NOT opinion this is fact. If there is one thing i can't stand by some section of our 'support' it is complete lies spread to fit their view of the world or dislike of a manager. It's dreadful. I have faith in Lambert doing the right thing by them but we also have to accept some of them won't be good enough. Massive question marks still over Emmanuel and Kenlock. Nydam will need to kick on a lot. He is talented but very slight so has to more then say a Downes who has similar ability but is more powerful. Bishop and Dozzell are are the real gems so we need to keep them fit and get them strong. All guys brought through by Mick. Lets not twist the truth!!!

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jayessess added 11:48 - Mar 8 We'd have to be crazy not to take up the options on both Kenlock and Emmanuel given the number of other, bigger problems we'll have to sort out in the Summer.
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