MATT Ingram could be Wanderers' number one next season if he continues to keep up his level of progression, believes Richard Dobson.

Blues' assistant manager has kept a close eye on the teenager's development from his years as youth team manager and thinks he'll be ready for regular professional football next season.

Ingram, who earlier in his career was called up to an England goalkeeping training camp, has excelled during a season-long loan spell at Oxford City and has won both of the previous two player of the month awards for the Conference North outfit.

And when asked if he could be first choice between the posts for Wanderers next season, Dobson said: "If he continues to go the way he's been going, I can see no reason why not.

"The way he's done on loan has made us look at him with a view to him being a future number one at a very young age for a goalkeeper.

"He's a very level-headed lad. He doesn't tell us he's got player of the month at Oxford, we've got to to drag it out of him for the last two months."

Dobson believes the 18-year-old former John Hampden pupil has benefitted from training alongside Scotland U21 international Jordan Archer, who is with Blues on loan until the end of the season from Tottenham Hotspur.

He said: "Jordan coming in has given him that little competitive element. He's a year older and he's thought, 'If he can do it then I can do it'.

"This loan spell's crucial to his development. If he continues until the end of the season, I think he should be setting his own targets of wanting to be first team goalkeeper next season."