Town boss Mick McCarthy says future Premier League centre-half Adam Webster is “an absolute joy to watch when he strides out with the ball”. The increasingly confident 21-year-old, who came closest to ending Town's goalless streak during Saturday's 0-0 draw at Blackburn, brought the ball out of defence on numerous occasions at Ewood Park.

“He reminds me of me when I played in my pomp, striding out with a centre forward on my foot, not the ball,” McCarthy joked.

“No, he’s much better at that and more cultured than I ever was. But I’ll tell you what he did do, he defended. He won all the headers and he tackled and he handled all that because I think Sam Gallagher and Marvin Emnes are a handful and he kept dropping in.

“I thought he was excellent at that but he’s an absolute joy to watch when he strides out with the ball. You don’t think he’s going to lose it, you always think he’s going to find a pass.”

McCarthy, who signed Webster from Portsmouth for £750,000 with Matt Clarke moving in the opposite direction, believes the former England U18 and U19 international has a very big future ahead of him.

“I think he’s a Premier League footballer in the making,” McCarthy reiterated. “I hope it’s with us, but if not he’ll play there.

“And if he does end up going there he’ll go for a lot of money because I look at the fees that people pay for defenders and he’s got the potential to be top drawer.

“I won’t be making him big-headed, he’s got his feet on the ground, he’s a lovely young fella as well.”

Webster was widely viewed as Town’s man of the match on Saturday, a display which would have been capped with a first-half winning goal but for an excellent Jason Steele save.

“You don’t always get the golden chocolate bar, do you?” McCarthy added. “He’s played well. You don’t always get the Willy Wonka bar.”

Webster’s header would have ended Town’s goalless streak which has now stretched to five games, eight hours and seven minutes of football since Luke Varney netted in the 1-0 win at Derby last month, the Blues’ last victory.

Town’s record goalless run is seven games between February and April of the 1994/95 Premier League relegation season - which included the 9-0 loss at Manchester United and was part of a run of eight successive league defeats - while the current spell is the longest since a barren streak of six matches - one in the FA Cup - in January and February of the 2006/07 campaign.

Saturday's 0-0 draw was Town's fourth of the season. Last year six Blues games ended goalless - although none by this point in the campaign - while the club record is eight in 1971/72.

Photo: TWTD

trncbluearmy added 06:06 - Oct 17 Another one ITFC are lining up to sell then
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 07:00 - Oct 17 I'll give McCarthy his dues on this one. Webster is a top player and we'll do well to hold onto him.
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KuqiCoup added 07:07 - Oct 17 Webster is currently the only part of this team even tempting me to go tomorrow.
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therein61 added 07:12 - Oct 17 Bringing the ball out of defence and playing football!!! you'll have to knock that out of him or drop him Mick we're not used to it.
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Penguinblue added 07:27 - Oct 17 Well done Webster. But this is a smokescreen. McCarthy OUT
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shakytown added 09:45 - Oct 17 Don't worry he will be warming the bench soon enough.
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ianmarshall10 added 10:02 - Oct 17 Agree with Mick if he stays grounded he's showing a lot of potential to be a top class modern centre back. Gotta say went to the match on Saturday can see exactly why so many fans are frustrated with town at the moment. How ever all the Mick out gang need to get a grip ffs!! Marcus Evans a so called Ipswich fan and a well off millionaire who has no ambition what so ever. Mick has basically had to deal with scraps since day one and with the current players we have and a joke of a chairman Mick is the best man for the job. Would like to know from the Mick out gang who they would realistically get to replace him and could do a better job than his doing? If all the haters would support the team instead of moaning all the time we might be better off.

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Wickets added 10:09 - Oct 17 I don,t disagree with most of what you say ianmarshall but Micks choice of centre midfield is what annoys the hell out of the same sane members on this forum, he does have options in that department!!
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beornioblue added 10:12 - Oct 17 dont agree with above post im afraid, Mick has got an 11 man team that could play quite well in that squad, that he has amassed on scraps ill give him that, but the reason he is getting so much deserved grief at the moment is because he is sticking with same under performers week in week out
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brian_a_mul added 10:16 - Oct 17 Another great bit of business by MM, give him credit for bringing in a young ball playing CB and actually playing him in the first team ahead of Smith. I can understand why he wants Chambers beside him. Giving Webster a good grounding and advise in a critical position I think Emmanual in the RB role along side Webster at the moment would give us a very inexperienced right sided defense. If Josh can keep doing well when called upon. building first team experience, he will be in a superb place to make the RB spot his own next season. Both him and Webster (if still here) will have learned a hugh amount by the end of this season, Well done MM, I think it is really good player and squad management tbh

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Miles added 10:16 - Oct 17 What annoys me with fans is that this particular article is one where Mick is saying something positive about a player who the majority of the fans want to see playing. I understand the criticism and frustration in some cases but this article is about something we all agree with. It's as if some of you are looking for any chance to complain even if there's nothing to complain about.

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TR11BLU added 10:16 - Oct 17 Yes Dino what a great manager you are for finding him ....you To$$er Pi$$ OFF
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1RWR added 10:19 - Oct 17 Play a bit of youth, play a bit of attacking football, TELL THE FANS YOUR INTENTIONS & the majority will be behind you & if you play the youth & they mess up TRYING then we won't be on your back, ok?.......simples!
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iaintaylorx added 10:28 - Oct 17 Not going to lie, but he is a great signing and go on to bigger and better things. Looks like he doesn't agree with Mick's ugly hoof ball approach. He reminds me of a younger Rio Ferdinand the way he comes out with the ball and not afraid to take risks! Don't let Mick stop you from doing that. MICK OUT!
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iaintaylorx added 10:29 - Oct 17 And also, if John Stones is worth 50 million and they're a very similar player......
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Vizslaraner added 12:45 - Oct 17 This is the only worthwhile thing he has said in months. What you have to ask is if we hadn't of played Pompey is he wouldn't have known about him as our scouting network is appalling. Cressy was jewels signing,ward was due to klug, mings due to Russell Osman, Lawerence due to playing Blackburn. Fair enough he watched Freddie but that is only down the road. I am at a loss as to how weno longer look at the Dutch market or the lower leagues. Oh and forgot he identified Knudsen via some stat programme. Hang on he doesn't believe in stats! Maybe only when it suits him hey. Webster is going to be a great player for us, let's just hope the new manager can get hold of him before he coaches it out of him! Got to stop this daydreaming

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Vizslaraner added 12:52 - Oct 17 I do agree that when he came in he done a good job and saved us. That's not the point we are trying to make, he has signed better players but he can't gel them as he knows no other way. You could give him millions but his attitude is a point at all costs=dull, uninspiring dross every time. We need to entice the youngsters to want to watch our club, but ask yourself if you were a youngster would you get excited coming to Portman rd like we did when we were younger. This club means the world to a lot of us and we will continue to do so, but with the fare on show youngsters won't be so keen to come back

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prebsa added 13:44 - Oct 17 He certainly won't be a premier league player with Town if Mick is in charge!
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TimmyH added 15:15 - Oct 17 Nice to see Webster as a defender - so for once I agree with Mick and agree with others he could* become a very decent player, he passes the ball well shame the 2 in front of him don't!
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jas0999 added 17:12 - Oct 17 Great news and great signing. I bet Evans is delighted ...
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