Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has urged Josh Carson to make the most of his loan spell with York City.
Carson looked as though he was going to be a key member of the Ipswich squad when he broke through from the academy under the management of Roy Keane in 2011. International honours followed with Northern Ireland and he continued to feature under Paul Jewell, who replaced Keane.
However, the 19-year-old has failed to impress McCarthy since he was appointed in November last year, which has resulted in the midfielder joining League Two side York to gain more regular action.
Despite admitting that he is still willing to give Carson a chance to revive his career at Portman Road, McCarthy has insisted that he will have to "rip it up" while he is at York.
"He's not going to get in my first team – he's not at that level just now. I think he played in the last game before I came, against Sheffield Wednesday, but a month away will do him some good. He needs some football," McCarthy is quoted as saying by the East Anglian Daily Times.
"I'm not giving up on him. If he wants to play in my team, he needs to go up to York and rip it up. It needs to be a case of 'Josh Carson is in for player of the month'. That's what I'll be looking for.
"Surely players don't need encouragement from a manager to go away and do well on loan. If he wants to be here and be a player then he'll know the only way that can happen is if he gets some competitive football."
Carson has made a total of 35 appearances for Ipswich, scoring five goals.
Liam Apicella
