Blues boss Kieran McKenna has revealed he has had loan interest in Cameron Humphreys and says he is continuing to assess whether to send the young midfielder and centre-half Elkan Baggott out before the end of the transfer window.

Humphreys, 19, came on as a sub in Tuesday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Bristol Rovers having become a regular in the first-team squad last season.

McKenna was asked whether there is a dilemma with the academy product, on the one hand keeping him at Portman Road to be a squad member, and one who doesn’t count towards the 25-man limit given his youth, or to send him out on loan to play more regularly.

“He’s another player where you take all things into consideration,” McKenna said. “We think Cameron’s a super player and he’s going to get much better.

“We think he’s got a future at the club and we like having him in the squad, not because he doesn’t count to the numbers but because I think he’s a terrific player. I’ve absolutely no doubts about putting him into any game against any opponent.

“He’s here, he’s training well, he’s another young player who we think develops really well in this group, he improves and has improved with training, he improves with being around and competing against our senior players on a daily basis and it’s a long season, and we know he’s ready to play and will play over the course of the season.

“On the other hand, of course, games are important and you do get some other elements to your development from playing week in, week out, which isn’t impossible for him to do here this season, but there’s stiff competition.

“We’ll assess the situation ongoing until the end of the window. For now, he’s a very, very important member of the squad, he’s training really well, he’s ready to play.

“We’ve had some interest to take him on loan but with Cameron it’s definitely going to have to be the case of the right club and we wouldn’t hand over his development loosely because he’s a very important player to us.

“But we’re communicating continually with Cameron and we’ll do what’s right for the football club but our young assets, who are important parts of the football club, we’ll also find the balance of trying to do what’s right for them individually to help them become a really big player here some day, hopefully.”

McKenna says the Blues are similarly still considering whether centre-half Elkan Baggott might spend the season out on loan or at Portman Road, the Indonesian international having impressed against the Pirates in midweek and throughout pre-season.

“I think he has improved since the start of pre-season, to be honest,” McKenna said. “I’ve spoken to Elkan about that.

“I think he improves every day being with this group. He improves from being within the dressing room and our players, he improves from our training, he has improved over the course of our pre-season friendlies and he improves from the coaching input he gets within our staff here on the training pitch and around the building.

“So I think he has improved a lot in the last seven weeks, which bodes well and is why he is still in the building at this point and why we still have decisions to make around the next steps.

“The good thing is that he is developing, he’s a good learner and he takes on information really well.

“He had a different role the other night, he had to defend much more man-to-man against Jevani Brown than what we typically would do, but it was something we wanted to work on and add to our tactical options as a team.

“I thought he did that role very well, I have to say, as it’s not easy and again from every pre-season game, through to Austria, through to that game, he has shown improvement and showed in the right environment what a good learner he can be.”

Following the form he has shown in both pre-season and the Carabao Cup, McKenna revealed that he would be confident in giving Baggott his Championship debut, if needed.

He said: “He has done well for us when he has gone in previously and he has shown over the course of pre-season that he contributes.

“Everyone who is training with the group at the moment, I have the confidence they could play or else they wouldn’t still be here at this point.

“But beyond that, it is about making the right decision for us and the right decision for Elkan around how many minutes he is possibly going to get and for us to have good covering competition in the squad and for him continuing to improve.

“We are continuing to have those conversations over the next few weeks. Of course, we still have a few weeks.

“At the moment, his focus has just been on the first couple of games and Bristol Rovers being the big one. We will speak again before the end of the window and do what we think is right for all parties.”

We understand Stevenage are among a number of League One clubs to have shown interest in Baggott.

Photo: Matchday Images

iaintaylorx added 15:33 - Aug 11 I think a loan to a good League 1 side could benefit both these lads, more so for Humphries as I don’t see him getting many minutes with our midfield options. For Elkan, Stevenage are more of a ‘hoof ball’ side which I don’t think would be beneficial for his development. I’d keep Elkan around the group especially if we don’t add another CB. He looked very comfortable against Rovers on Tuesday and could do with being around the group and picking up a few games here and there.

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muccletonjoe added 15:42 - Aug 11 Great to see our young players improving under our own coach rather than being shipped out to somewhere else. Something we have not had for a long, long while.
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dawoolah added 15:51 - Aug 11 Both a are strong enough to play a part in 1st team if needed. Baggott especially on Weds night was superb.
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Help added 15:59 - Aug 11 I think both players depend on who and If we get in. If not they stay.
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Len_Brennan added 16:19 - Aug 11 Baggott has done well, both in Austria & v Bristol Rovers, and he looks like he will be a decent footballer, but he needs to be playing regularly now, at League One level, for his own development. A few weeks ago he was definitely going to be going on loan, but now McKenna is a bit more cautious in what he says. Had we managed to get the move for McNally over the line, Elkan would probably be gone on loan already. It seems there was real interest in Trusty as well, so losing out on our 2 main central defensive targets, within 24 hours of each other, has left us a little bit on the backfoot now, so it makes absolute sense that we hold onto Baggott until an experienced Championship level centre back is signed. He has bags of potential, but needs a good full season behind him before we can say he is ready to step into the Championship up against strikers worth £10m.

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ArnieM added 16:25 - Aug 11 I’d be keeping Baggott and graduat8ng him 8nt9 the squad, and I’d loan out Humprhies ( too lightweight at present and too many better players ahead of him).
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Suffolkboy added 16:39 - Aug 11 Let’s just place our complete faith and trust in KM and Co who clearly patiently think through every aspect of what is good for ITFC and each individual —and do not hesitate to communicate regularly and openly . As others have said ,what a super challenge to have a group of our own schooled and developed youngsters promising to shine . COYB
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Naylorsrightboot added 16:48 - Aug 11 It's simple really. If Ashton can talk anyone into coming they go out on loan, if not we have to keep them and McKenna has to pretend he is happy with that.
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SpiritOfJohn added 16:56 - Aug 11 Humphreys more than held his own when introduced last season, but then faded a bit as the number of games began to take their toll. After Luongo came in he didn't get much of a look in, but I would expect him to be stronger this year and ready to play his part. Baggott certainly looks up to the task. I'd keep them both here under KM's watchful eye.
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Bazza8564 added 17:35 - Aug 11 Will totally depend on who we bring in, I liked them both against BR. If we bring players in id like us to think more about shifting Evans and Edmundson rather than these two, I think their potential is far greater than those two for players who won't be first choices anyway
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BlueHarmony added 18:14 - Aug 11 Town fans need to see the 'youth' players progressing to the 1st X1 squad and getting game time on a Saturday. At the moment, we only have 'Woolfy' as one of our own and Humphries proved in the first half of last season that he can cut the mustard (excuse the deliberate reference to our 6-fingered neighbours). I would hate to see him hoovered up by a Premier league team to rot in their Premiership B team and we lose out on a diamond player

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BlueHarmony added 18:19 - Aug 11 Same goes for Elkin really. Isn't he left-footed and looks comfortable on the ball. We're not overrun with Centre Backs, although a first choice selection is definitely on the radar, so I can see him getting some game-time this season if we keep the faith. That said, in Ashton & McKenna we trust. They've not got much wrong so far!!
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Clemcc added 19:20 - Aug 11 I am scared that Elkan will not renew his contract next time wanting somewhere permanent, plus going on a free. He is getting better and be a very good player. I think he needs to be part of the ITFC team to feel more welcomed, etc.
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rfretwell added 06:25 - Aug 12 Yes it depends on whether we can bring in 2 experienced pros but loans also get young players out of their comfort zones, living away from home, whole different life experiences. Thats all great for their personal development too.
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