Town star Damien Delaney has praised schoolboy protégé Byron Lawrence, who may be handed a first team opportunity before the end of the season.

Manager Paul Jewell is a big fan of the former Histon youngster and has hinted more than once that he might hand him a senior debut in the remaining two games, at home to Millwall tomorrow and at relegated Doncaster in seven days’ time.

Delaney said: “Byron is still at school, which says a lot, but he trained with us a lot over Easter and the biggest compliment I can pay him is that he didn’t look out of place. If you walked in during a session, and you didn’t know anything, you would never think he was as young as he is or that he had so little experience.

“He was training just as well as a lot of the senior lads in the squad. Maybe he deserves his chance but he’s only 16 and that’s entirely up to the manager.

“What advice would I give him? Good luck, I’d say. But he’s got a good head on his shoulders and will be fine. He’s got all the potential in the world but it will be about how he takes his chance in the first team when it comes.

“You only find out about them when you stick them into the cut and thrust of first team football. It’s a different animal when you’re playing there, you know.”

Delaney has also delivered his verdict on the fans’ poll to find the Player of the Year, revealing his own personal short list of four.

He added: “You would have to consider Lee Martin and Andy Drury. When they got in the team in January, along with Luke Hyam, the momentum turned in the home win over West Ham.

“I know we haven’t exactly been hurtling forward but I think when they came in we definitely put the brakes on what could have been a very difficult season. They had a huge impact.

“Lee has been exceptional for us in the past number of games and Andy has been outstanding. He’s missed a few games but when he plays and he’s on top of his game he makes a huge difference to us. As well as them Cressy has been pretty solid at the back and Carlos has been pretty good, so I don’t think you can look past those four.”

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

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