Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert has suggested that some of the Tractor Boys’ young prospects could make a real impact on the first team at Portman Road in the next few years.

Lambert has given plenty of game time to the likes of Brett McGavin, Armando Dobra and Idris El Mizouni so far this campaign, with the trio largely being used in the cup competitions for the Tractor Boys so far this campaign, allowing Ipswich to keep some of their first team players fresh for League One matches.

The trio have impressed when they have featured, with McGavin in particular making a real statement with his performance against Lincoln City in the FA Cup a few weeks ago, and that could be enough to convince Lambert to start giving his younger players some action in League One during the rest of the season.

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Speaking to the media ahead of Ipswich’s trip to Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy on Wednesday, Lambert praised the impact that McGavin has made and suggested that developing the likes of him as well as both Dobra and El Mizouni could save the club funds in the transfer window over the next few years, saying: "He was a young lad, thrown in again and I've been really happy with Brett because he's done well. There are a lot of guys a bit ahead of him at the moment but he's done well.

"He's grabbed the game and taken his chance. Now I know he can handle men's football.

"That's all you ever want from a young kid, for them to show you what they can do. It's the same with Dobra, Idris and Tommy Hughes.

"It might just save the club a lot of money, millions."

The Verdict

Lambert is right to suggest that it is vital that the club continue to offer chances to their talented academy players over the next few years, with some of them having managed to produce some really encouraging performances for the Tractor Boys so far this campaign.

Were Ipswich to develop them and give them first team chances then it would help the club potentially not have to invest as heavily in the transfer market, and they have already seen through the likes of Andre Dozzell and Flynn Downes that they have the talent in their academy capable of making the step up to the first team.

It will be interesting to see how much game time Lambert gives to the trio over the rest of the season, especially when Ipswich are out of some of the cup competitions, with McGavin at the moment still waiting for his chance in League One and El Mizouni and Dobra looking for an extended run at first team level.