CANARY AL’S TOO YOUNG FOR MICK

NORWICH boss Alex Neil has told Mick McCarthy: I’m too young to remember you as a player.

At 33 the Scot is the youngest gaffer in the English game and hosts McCarthy’s Ipswich today.

McCarthy was a big hit as a no- nonsense centre- back at Celtic in Neil’s native Glasgow.

But that was a long time ago in the 1980s.

He said: “That was a wee bit before my time – I’m only 33.

“I know of Mick. He was the national manager with Ireland and I was at Barnsley. He’s a Barnsley lad and they spoke about him quite a bit.

“I’ve seen him on the TV and obviously he’s a big character. He’s done well there. I will have a chat with him after the game, hopefully once we’ve won, and console him.”

Skipper Russell Martin reckons the players didn’t mind that their boss is only slightly older than them.

Ego

He said: “You have to give people a chance, especially when they are coming in to be your boss.

“I can’t imagine there’s anyone here with an ego big enough to think they know more than the manager.

“He’s had 18 months in a tough job, did a good job up there and has started brilliantly here.”

Both sides are in the promotion mix and McCarthy has boosted his strike options by borrowing Chris Wood from Leicester.

The New Zealand international, 23, will stay for the rest of the season and goes straight into the squad for the derby.

McCarthy said: “He’s a goalscorer who has ripped up the Championship on occasions. “He’s good technically and has a physical presence about him. He’s just a very good all- round player.”