Paul Hurst has development in mind after allowing a trio of young players to leave Ipswich Town on loan before today’s deadline.

After Tristan Nydam headed to Scottish top flight side St Johnstone earlier this week, Ben Morris (Forest Green), Luke Woolfenden (Swindon Town) and Josh Emmanuel (Shrewsbury) all moved out on temporary deals before the window closed.

Hurst insists the young players have big futures with the Blues but, with gametime set to be limited for them at Portman Road, he believes they are best served playing regularly in the lower leagues.

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“We have got some good young players here who I rate highly but at the moment they are not getting the games they need,” Hurst said.

“I have to look at what is best for the development of their careers and they are far better off playing first-team games on loan than they are sitting on the bench or in the stands here or playing for the U23s.

“They need to be playing games with three points at stake week in, week out and they have the opportunity to do that on loan and keep developing. Then we will look at it again in January.”

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Nydam’s loan deal only runs until January, while Morris, Woolfenden and Emmanuel all agreed season-long loans which include clauses which allow the Blues to recall them at the start of next year.

Woolfenden is excited to get started in League Two with Swindon, where he was recommended to Robins manager Phil Brown by former Blues boss Mick McCarthy.

“I’m excited because it’s a big club which shouldn’t be in League Two,” he said.

When Phil Brown first rang me I said: I know who he is, he’s worked in the Premier League so that was a huge draw for me.

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“I was comfortable at that level, in the National League, so I think I’m more than ready to make the step up to League Two.”

Of Morris, Forest Green manager Mark Cooper said: “Ben’s an exciting, young centre-forward - Ipswich have got high hopes for him.

“He’s a real workhorse, he can get hold of the ball, he can run the channels and he can score goals, so I’m looking forward to working with him.”