FATE played a part in rookie shooting star Connor Wickham playing for Ipswich Town.

Elvin King

By ELVIN KING

elvin.king@archant.co.uk

FATE played a part in rookie shooting star Connor Wickham playing for Ipswich Town.

The 16-year-old striker, who is tipped for football stardom, owes his Blues connection to his father Stefan's army posting.

Wickham has already suggested that he has the ability to help shoot the Blues into the Premier League.

He could prove a trump card to Roy Keane as the Town manager looks to bring the good times back to Portman Road.

But if it hadn't been for his father's transfer to Colchester barracks in 2005, Wickham could now be on the books Reading.

He was associated with the Royals as a schoolboy, and it was not until he was 12 that he began his links with Town.

Richard Hall was head of schoolboy programming at the time and he recalls Wickham's arrival at Town's Playford Road training ground.

“It was soon realised that Connor had a special talent,” said Hall, who is now working as Under-16 coach at Colchester United under head of youth and former Ipswich academy head Tony Humes.

“You have to give credit to the boy. From day one when you gave him ideas he has always been quick to pick it up.

“If Connor continues in the same vein he has a massive future ahead of him.”

Wickham scored two superb goals at Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup this season after becoming the youngest ever Ipswich Town player when just 16 years and 11 days at the time he came on as substitute in the game against Doncaster on April 11.

The England Under-17 international, who has been in every squad this season, said: “I'm sure my family and friends will help to me level headed.

“They were at my debut against Doncaster and once I had a taste of it I wanted more.”