Wickham's done the right thing by snubbing Spurs to stay at Ipswich - just ask Bostock and Naughton

By Darren Lewis

Published 18:47 26/01/11

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Forget the decision that Sian Massey made last weekend. The best decision of the last week has been the one made by Connor Wickham at Ipswich.

The highly-rated 17-year-old striker has been courted by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United.

Indeed, Spurs have made three offers to buy the marksman named the Football League Player of the Month last April.

But he has been superbly advised to stay at Portman Road and play football.

The lure of the Premier League has seen the ruin of many a promising talent who has upped sticks and left the Championship like wotsit off a shovel.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Southampton appears (or at least the people around him do) so desperate to quit for Arsenal he can taste it.

But the fact is, young players who quit the Championship team they are at to move into the Premier League are just not going to get a game.

Ask Jamie Edge at Chelsea, Johnny Bostock at Spurs and his club-mate Kyle Naughton who spent ages at White Hart Lane kicking his heels before being rescued by Leicester.

Wickham has done the right thing by staying at the club where he will be able to hone his talents and learn his trade at the coalface.

There are many, many young players who should follow his lead.

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