Ipswich Town defender Jack Ainsley is confident that he can earn a first-team opportunity from boss Roy Keane.
The 19-year-old who came through the club’s apprenticeship programme is currently on loan at Histon but he hopes to emulate fellow youngsters Tom Eastman and Troy Brown who are both getting a taste of Championship football.
Ainsley has started two matches for Town this season, both in the League Cup and he believes that the manager is willing to select young players if their form merits inclusion. “If you play well every week, as the Ipswich manager has shown already, he’ll throw any young lad in,” said Ainsley.
Ainsley is now gaining experience with Blue Square Premier side Histon. He struggled on his debut for them in a 5-1 defeat by Luton Town but put in a solid showing in last week’s 2-1 home defeat to Bath. “It [Luton] wasn’t the best of games I’ve had,” he said.
“I had trained with the boys on the Friday and then got thrown straight into the game on Saturday. It wasn’t a very good game for me but you’ve got to learn from it. I thought I played a bit better in the Bath City game, which gives me more confidence for the next game.”
With his loan spell at Bridge Road set to end on 20 December, Ainsley says he will let the two clubs decide whether the deal is extended. “I don’t really think about how long I’m going to be there,” he added.
“I’ll take each game as it comes and then I’ll let the manager and Ipswich sort it out. I don’t really get involved with that.”
