Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has insisted on-loan winger Ainsley Maitland-Niles will become an Arsenal first-teamer in the future.

The 17-year-old is on loan at Ipswich from Arsenal and has made three starts for the club. Last night the youngster came on and assisted the winner for Ipswich from a corner that David McGoldrick scored. The assist has seen the starlet buried in compliments from fans and pundits alike, but manager Mick McCarthy’s words will mean the most to the youngster.

“Wow. The talent of him; I think he’s going to play for Arsenal, there’s no doubt in my mind.” McCarthy told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“We are just so lucky to have him.”

Maitland-Niles made his Arsenal debut as a half-time substitute against Galatasaray in the Champions League in December, he has gone on to make a further couple of substitute appearances, but is yet to start for the Gunners. Wenger can see the potential he possesses, so opted to loan the youngster out – something which is clearly paying off.

“Nobody knew anything about him. I watched him play against Reading for [Arsenal’s] under-21s last season and I thought he was great.” said McCarthy.

“I enquired about him in January, but they needed him for their Champions League squad.”

“He’s such a lovely kid and all, he’s fitted in perfectly. What’s nice for him is we’ve got Josh Emmanuel, Myles Kenlock, Adam McDonnell and Teddy Bishop, they’re his age and peers.”

“I had the conversation with him ‘I know you can play, but if you don’t run around and don’t put a shift in you won’t play’ but he’s a workaholic.”

[All quotes via BBC Sport]