Cameron Stewart Gets His Chance!

There are encouraging signs that perhaps winger Cameron Stewart has finally learned his lesson?

In pre-season last year he came back to Portman Road unfit and out of shape but this time around he surprised the gaffer and has returned in great shape,having impressed during testing and he has given himself an excellent chance of coming back into his plans.

Manager Mick McCarthy had previously said that if he puts in the hard work, he might consider him for the Ireland trip and he obviously has because this has proved to be the case.

McCarthy gave us all a bit of a clue as to his thinking the other day when he told the press, ‘ He`s done his bleep test and he`s come back really fit this time, so I didn`t have to fall out with him again!’

There is no guarantee however that all is forgiven. If you recall McCarthy said much the same about Paul Taylor and Alex Henshall in close season and we all know what happened to them!

The slate has not been exactly wiped clean but there is still hope for the 25 year old who earlier in his career showed lots of promise.

McCarthy explained, ‘It’s not quite a clean slate but clean-ish I would say. He came back on the first day and did well, so that`s the first day, but he`s got a lot of work to do. I`d love him to do it and to be a success, but that`s down to him.’

Taking him to Ireland will give him an extra incentive to impress and if he does, who is to say that he won’t figure in Mick’s plans?

We have had a few wingers that have come and gone without ever really making the grade and Tommy Oar and Dylan Connolly are two very recent examples; along of course with Alex Henshall.

McCarthy has always insisted that it is no good having talent alone because he needs more than that. The work ethic is key to a player’s future at this club and maybe the penny has dropped for Cameron?

Our manager has hinted that one or two of the younger members of the squad will probably be added before Town play Shelbourne in Dublin on Saturday afternoon.

It will be interesting to see how much action Stewart gets and whether he is beginning to win over the management team?


Frank Weston – editor of Vital Ipswich