Conor Chaplin

Conor Mark Chaplin (born 16 February 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker or winger for League One club Ipswich Town.

Club Career

Portsmouth

Born in Worthing, Chaplin progressed through Portsmouth's youth categories after joining the club at the age of six. He was offered a two-year scholarship contract on 3 July 2013.

Chaplin signed a two-year professional deal with Pompey on 20 October 2014, after scoring 11 goals in 11 appearances for the under-18's. He made his League Two debut on 13 December, from the bench in a 2–3 home defeat against Accrington Stanley.

Chaplin scored his first professional goal on 11 April 2015, netting his team's only in a 1–3 away defeat against Morecambe. He made his first start for Pompey in their final game of the season, a 1–1 home draw against York City.

At the end of the season he was named the League Two Apprentice of the Year.

2015–16 season

Chaplin started the 2015–16 season on the bench, playing second fiddle to first-choice striker Matt Tubbs, but showcased his talents with goals against Championship clubs Derby and Reading in the first and second rounds of the Football League Cup, also scoring in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in a 2–2 draw with Ipswich Town. He scored his first two league goals of the season in a 3–1 win over Barnet on 12 September.

Although Chaplin struggled to maintain a first-team place in the league, he would still manage to score 11 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions.

2016–17 season

Competition for the sole striking berth in manager Paul Cook's preferred 4–2–3–1 formation was made all the more intense at the start of the 2016/17 season, following the signings of Michael Smith, who made his loan move permanent, as well as Curtis Main from Doncaster Rovers and experienced forward Noel Hunt.

Chaplin subsequently found himself on the bench in the early week