Luke Chambers: We call Ipswich Town new-boy “The Rash” in training

Ainsley Maitland-Niles holds off a challenge at Brentford PAGEPIX LTD 07976 935738

Ipswich Town skipper Luke Chambers revealed wing wizard Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ready for the hard graft after an impressive start to his Blues career.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

The 17-year-old Arsenal loanee impressed in Saturday’s season opening 2-2 draw at Brentford and is expected to be recalled for Saturday’s home game with Sheffield Wednesday, having been rested for Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup win over Stevenage.

The youngster has only been in Suffolk a matter of weeks but is already making a big impression on his team-mates who have nicknamed him “The Rash”.

Chambers said of the laid-back teenager: “One of the first things I said to Ainsley when he came to the club was, ‘Are you going to break into a sprint?’

“Then after four or five days of training we had a small-sided game and he was like a different player and we called him the rash, getting around everyone at every opportunity.

“That’s something you wouldn’t possibly think would come from an Arsenal player, maybe you would just be thinking about his technical ability, but he has got it (work-rate) in an abundance.

“I said to him on the way back from Brentford, when we were trying to get over the fact we had dropped two points, ‘you won’t be doing that again will you?’

“He had tried dribbling around four of their players on the edge of their box.

“They ended up coming our way and he had to sprint 90 yards back, but he is willing to do that.

“The way he took to it Saturday, there’s no worries for us and I would imagine he could easily play 46 to 48 games this season.”

Maitland-Niles and fellow winger Ryan Fraser have dazzled so far and Chambers is excited about their arrivals.

“I think they are different to what we have had,” added Chambers.

“Last year Tabby (Jay Tabb) played a lot of games, as did Paul Anderson, and they were very hard-working players that made us very difficult to beat.

“Ainsley and Ryan have got that and also now possibly add that little bit more going forward.”