Blues boss Mick McCarthy had praise for U23s coach Gerard Nash after his side climbed to the top of the Professional Development League Two South by beating Nottingham Forest 5-2 at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena on Tuesday.

The side led by former central defender and academy product Nash, whose fledgling career was ended by a succession of injuries, have won five of their six games this season, including the last four on the trot.

“Nashy’s been very, very good, he’s good coach, as I thought Mark Kennedy was,” McCarthy said of the 31-year-old Irishman.

“I just feel that Nashy’s not dropped on a lucky vein of players as such, but he’s got a squad that can stay together, like Woolfy [Luke Woolfenden], Chris Smith, George Fowler, although I know he’s gone out on loan [to Aldershot], Dylan Crowe at right-back playing there, just one of the young ‘uns.

“James Blanchfield’s come back into great form, I’m delighted with him. Ben Folami, Ben Morris, Pat Webber, Danny Rowe’s played and played well and if I’ve missed one of them unlucky for them.

“They’ve just stuck together, they’ve got a really good squad of players and that’s what we’ve always been trying to achieve.

U23 GOALS | Look back on all 5️⃣ #itfc goals from the U23s 5-2 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Impact Arena pic.twitter.com/4Khu2Jsqm2

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) September 21, 2017

“And the reality is, although he played Tuesday, Tristan Nydam is usually missing and Flynn Downes and you’d think they’d be playing in there.

“So they’ve got a really nice balance to them and they’re not nicking players from the U16s and not having some of our lads who are disenchanted and playing in the U23s.

“Everyone who has gone and played, whether it’s been Bersant Celina, Tom Adeyemi, Webbo, Danny Rowe - sadly for him Danny got clattered on Tuesday and he’s injured as well - they’ve all gone in and contributed. Gerard Nash everybody, he’s a very competent young coach.”

Photo: TWTD

SuperTommySmith added 17:53 - Sep 21 Hot take - Gerard Nash the next manager after MM. (Especially as I reckon Mick will get his contract renewed so it'll still be a few years away)
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algarvefan added 18:29 - Sep 21 SuperTommySmith you could well be right there. Great to see 'proper'football being played too.
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muccletonjoe added 18:51 - Sep 21 It would not surprise me at all if Nash was considered for micks job when he finally steps down.
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rfretwell added 18:57 - Sep 21 From under 23's head coach to Manager of ITFC? That's a massive leap. Two very, very different roles so not going to happen.
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Cakeman added 07:12 - Sep 22 I would very much like to see a young manager next once McCarthy has moved on. Nash has done very well but it may be a little to early for him. Maybe in five or six years time though.
1

therein61 added 17:04 - Sep 22 At least there is one manager at Portman Road who sends out a side to play attractive winning football(from what I've seen I've been impressed) without bigging up the opposition and setting up not to lose.
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