He may be the name on everybody's lips when it comes to the next big thing at Ipswich Town - but Cameron Humphreys knows he still has a lot to learn.

The teenage midfielder bagged his first goal for the Blues on his full league debut at Port Vale on Tuesday night, and impressed as Town won a thriller 3-2.

Fans chanted the 18-year-old's name after the game, a dream scenario for a lad who joined the club at the age of seven.

East Anglian Daily Times: Cameron Humphreys celebrates his goal at Port ValeCameron Humphreys celebrates his goal at Port Vale (Image: PAGEPIX LTD 07976935738)

Recalling that day, he said: "I was spotted playing for my local club and invited to come along to Ipswich for training at the training ground. I accepted and found that I was enjoying every session I attended.

“Luckily enough, they kept asking me back and it was an easy decision to make because I was enjoying it so much.

“My ultimate aim is to become a first team player and play regularly for the club at as high a level as possible.

“The club is going in a good direction and hopefully, if I can keep progressing, with the good coaching I am receiving and also the help from my colleagues, I can continue to improve as well.”

In terms of help from fellow players, the talented teen said his fellow midfielders, particularly, have been a big support.

East Anglian Daily Times: Cameron Humphreys is congratulated by his Town team-mates at Port ValeCameron Humphreys is congratulated by his Town team-mates at Port Vale (Image: PAGEPIX LTD 07976935738)

“The senior players have been really good to me and that includes those who play in the same position, skipper Sam Morsy, Lee Evans and Dom Ball,” he explained.

“All three are very good, experienced professionals and I’ve been able to learn a lot from them.

"I do feel like I’m part of the group. I’ve been able to train with them pretty much every day since pre-season, so I’ve got to know them and they’ve got to know me better. I feel as if I’ve settled in well and I’m happy with where I am right now.

“Generally, the club is going in a good direction and young players like me have to be able to show the ability and the character to step up a level.

“I have to say the senior players have helped me through being supportive and helping in all sorts of ways.

“They’ve been young players themselves so they know what it’s like to make the step up and they appreciate the challenge that any young player is faced with if he wants to progress to the top. It’s a part of the process that I’ve really enjoyed.

East Anglian Daily Times: Cameron Humphreys in actionCameron Humphreys in action

“It has been a collective effort. The three I mentioned earlier have been really helpful and in the few games I have played this season so far, I’ve played alongside Dom and he has helped me both on and off the pitch, whether it’s been putting in some extra work after training or chatting to me about the tactical side of the game.

“Richard Keogh as well, I’ve spoken a fair bit to him too. Everyone has been happy to help, really.”

Asked about what he was learning from the older heads, Humphreys said it ranges from tactics to just general support. 

He added: “They’ve been around a lot longer than I have and they have experienced a great deal in their careers, whereas I’m just at the beginning and I have a lot to learn.

“If it’s about the tactical side of the game or about how I’m doing something, and they can see how I could be more efficient and effective, they will let me know.

“Even if it just means checking on me and making sure I’m okay, they have taken it upon themselves to look after me and make sure all is well.

"It’s little things really, nothing too major, but it means a lot to receive their support and I’m very grateful for it.”

Another senior figure to have backed Humphreys is Town icon Kieron Dyer, who called him the second best midfielder at the club after surprisingly quitting his role as U23 coach.

For many young players, praise like that - from a man who's played at the very top of the game - could well have gone to their heads.

East Anglian Daily Times: Club icon Kieron Dyer praised Humphreys as the second-best midfielder at the clubClub icon Kieron Dyer praised Humphreys as the second-best midfielder at the club (Image: Andy Abbott)

Not Humphreys though, who seems to have remained very grounded.

“It was obviously nice to hear from someone like Kieron, who helped me a lot when he was the U23s coach at the club," he said.

He did a lot to help me and my game, and it’s nice to hear compliments from people who have played at such a high level, as he did in the Premier League and with England.

“But, at the end of the day, it doesn’t determine how successful I am. My focus is on improving all the time and learning from the players around me.

“Did it put me under any pressure? No, I just took it as a compliment. There’s always a lot of pressure on footballers, especially young footballers, so you don’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on yourself. It helped to boost my confidence but I never felt under any pressure because of it.

“Like I’ve said, Kieron was my coach and he did a lot for me and so did Bryan Klug, who is still at the club, especially when I was younger.

“Adem Atay, who left in the summer to join Aston Villa, was my youth coach and he was also a great help to me from the age of 12 or 13 upwards.

"They were all a big part of my journey and my progression into the first team environment here at Ipswich.”

Now that he is in that first team picture, where does he see himself fitting in - and playing?

“I’d describe myself as an energetic midfielder," Humphreys said. 

"I like to get about the pitch and I like to get on the ball when I can. I’m always looking for the forward pass, the one that will create chances.

“The thing I’m working hard to add to my game, something that the coaching staff have put in a lot of time and effort to help me, is timing my runs into the opposition box.

“I want to be more of a threat going forward, to both score goals and create assists.

"That’s an area I’m looking to improve, my end product, but I’m looking to get better at every aspect of the game, so I’m learning stuff all the time.

“I like to play in different positions and right the way through my time at the academy I’ve experienced different roles within the team, like left-back and left wing-back.

“It’s a different challenge because you might not see as much of the ball or you might have to defend in one-v-one situations a bit more often, but I still enjoy it and it all helps to improve my all-round game.”