Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says Cameron Humphreys is now a 'fully-fledged first team player', but has warned the teenage midfielder that increased competition for game-time is coming.

Humphreys, 19, was a cup starter earlier in the season but often failed to make league matchday squads.

Injuries to Lee Evans, Dominic Ball and Panutche Camara opened the door for him to start six of the last seven league games alongside skipper Sam Morsy though and the academy graduate has earnt plenty of praise.

Whether his run in the team continues now remains to be seen.

Evans made his comeback as a second half substitute during last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Wycombe, while it looks likely that Town will sign a central midfielder next month.

Massimo Luongo has been training with the Blues over recent days, while it's understood an enquiry has been made about Peterborough's Jack Taylor. 

"He certainly won’t be going back in the Under-23s this week," said McKenna, when asked about Humphreys ahead of the Boxing Day home clash with Oxford United.

MORE: Cameron Humphreys on his Town journey

"He’s been a really important player for us who has performed really well over a run of games. 

"He’s a fully-fledged member of the first team squad who’s going to be competing for positions.  

"Of course we’re going to have more competition in that area going forward.  

"We hope to go from a squad that’s been operating with really limited numbers to being, again, a squad with good numbers, good depth and good competition in every area.  

"Everyone is going to have to fight in training not just for a place in the team, but also in the squad. 

"I think that’s the healthiest place for us to be and that’s a place we want to be again."