Blues boss Paul Jewell says midfielder Luke Hyam has thoroughly deserved the new one-year deal offered earlier in the week having shown an exemplary attitude while out of the side earlier in the season. The 20-year-old returned to the first team for the FA Cup defeat at Hull and made his first league start of the Paul Jewell era in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Blackpool.

Jewell said: “I think he deserves a lot of credit, Luke Hyam. He’s been not near the team and sometimes he hasn’t got a game in the reserve team this year either.

“But I tell you what, he’s an example. He’s got his head down, he’s worked harder than he’s ever worked — he’s in the gym, he’s out on the pitches.

“It’s not just because he played well Saturday, I just thought it was a reward for what he’s done.

“I had a chat with him before Christmas and told him to keep going, that you don’t know what’s around the corner, he might get his chance and if he does to make sure he’s ready.”

Meanwhile, Portsmouth's prospective new owner Joseph Cala is reported to have pulled out of his move to take over at Fratton Park, something which could have a bearing on the Blues' attempt to sign Pompey pair Jason Pearce and Joel Ward.

Photo: Action Images

Keaneish added 14:25 - Jan 20 YES on both counts!! Come on Pompey - sell them!
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Sindre94 added 14:28 - Jan 20 Great! Ive always rated Hyam, great prospect for the future, what weve been looking for really, that holding midfielder. And also, get Ward and Pearce, NOW!
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casanovacrow added 14:28 - Jan 20 ...and then he'll drop him for tomorrows game lol
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depressed added 14:29 - Jan 20 What bull...you only played him because injuries forced you to !! Should have been a regular in the team this season.. Good luck Luke.
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broomfield123 added 14:30 - Jan 20 If thats the case with Hyam then offer him with a better than 1 year contract
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Mauricio added 14:35 - Jan 20 This stinks of a 'keep your chin up lad' sort of comment prior to Jewell dropping him for Leadbitter tomorrow. Unfortunately Jewell thinks this constitutes good, motivational management. Telling people they were 'unlucky to be dropped' doesn't motivate them, it just makes them lose faith in your managerial ability!
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casanovacrow added 14:38 - Jan 20 Mauricio - spot on, a young player does well then gets dropped, that can ruin his confidence and will just cause them to "not bother" in future ...and we have pleanty of older players who "don't bother" already
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irishtim added 14:43 - Jan 20 Yep looks like Leadboots back in @ Luke on the bench. Pjs attitude! Well we needed experience bla bla bla. Would not surprise me if delaney fit he would drop Tommy. No wonder young players get fed up. Hope im wrong.
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Surco72 added 14:54 - Jan 20 What young players are fed up ? Carson,Hyam,Murray given contracts due to hard work and professionalism Carson,Hyam and Smith in team,positions for them to lose now .Would like to see Bullard alongside Hyam could work well . Lavery and OConnor gone due to lack of ability both not wanted in English football by any club ,seems the system is working to me ?
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Wallingford_Boy added 14:54 - Jan 20 Not such good news on the Pompey takeover falling through..
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irishtim added 14:56 - Jan 20 surco72: If smith & hyam are dropped tomorrow they will be fed up. I would. Wouldnt you?
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alfromcol added 14:58 - Jan 20 Come on folks, he isn't dropped yet! What a load of wingers, probably hoping he will be dropped so you can say "Told you so". Sad people indeed, always looking to turn the knife in PJ even before he makes a decision.
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irishtim added 15:00 - Jan 20 alfromcol: I said if? But we know pj by now.
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osborne1nil added 15:12 - Jan 20 Perhaps it is time to give a few more fringe players a chance too them PJ as it has taken a year to discover that Hyam could be useful and Smith again. Maybe Peters for example deserves a proper chance as Edwards gets one every game and Leadbitter too but rarely perform? Well done Luke.
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Lightningboy added 15:47 - Jan 20 Sorry PJ,but you are talking cobblers...Hyam should've been given more of a chance before now (as should the likes of Jaime Peters)..it's injuries etc that have given you no choice but to play him. You need to show more faith in our youngsters..get the balance right PJ!
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Surco72 added 16:02 - Jan 20 Peters has been poor on recent outings and was poor on loan at Bournemouth i watched him in the last game he played for them before he was dropped and he looked dreadful as he did at the start of the season for us in the cup .Why would we drop one winger who is constantly caught out of position for another winger who isnt as good a footballer ? All of the players train against each other everyday and if they were looking that much better than the others they would have been playing more in the first team . And at the start of the season i dont think one supporter on here wanted to see Smith in an Ipswich shirt again for a while ,but a lot of fickle fans have short memories ,as they did while hounding Mac for being rubbish at the start of both of Keanes seasons in charge but now he has left he is suddenly Bobby Moore

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fifeblue added 17:49 - Jan 20 Hyam is the best player at the club. He is better than Nicky Butt at the same age and Butt was a super player, despite his critics.
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fourth added 18:10 - Jan 20 Just a One year contract? Think about trading confidence for confidence with 2 yr contracts
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harlingblue added 19:38 - Jan 20 Hyam should be offered a better deal, should be played for the rest of the season as long as his form doesn't dip...we could have a Captain for the future?
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Lathers added 20:02 - Jan 20 I've always liked Hyam. I remember seeing him away at Palace last season playing behind Norris and Leadbitter and he was solid in a 2-1 win. Never given a chance and we've been missing players like him on the up who give a f*ck about the team and have something to prove rather than highly paid has-beens. Jewell is simply all over the place and has no choice but to use whoever now and to be frank if his current young team start stringing a few results/performances together then he can't take much credit for it. 20th Jan today and no nearer to signing anyone to improve the squad. Good luck tomorrow lads.

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jas0999 added 20:28 - Jan 20 ... is this the same manager who signed injury prone has been freebies - and not played the likes of Hyam. PJ is a truely terrible manager. He doesn't have a clue - failed to bring in new players and nw wants credit for picking Hyam - a move any idiot could see was the right one? Oh dear - shocking management. PJ OUT
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Mutiny added 21:42 - Jan 20 Hyam = Talent
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TheCurly added 22:52 - Jan 20 I have always rated Hyam, hope PJ has at last seen the light that we have some talented youngsters at PR, time to give the boys a chance, see who will stand up and take it. Need to get the balance right, hungry youngsters with a point to prove with a smattering of experience, NOT old heads all over the place!!!!!!
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colonel added 10:18 - Jan 21 Don't know what he did so wrong to drop out of the frame earlier in season. Ok there's been a couple of times when he's been a bit of a passenger (under Keane & Jewell) but that's been down to the way we've been set up rather than Hyam. He's young and learning. Great to see him back again and performing well. Think we should stick with him and give him a run even if there's a blip in the odd game. i.e. see how games pan out & can make changes mid game if required. Would like to see our substitues being more tactical rather constantly replacing hamstring issues. That needs seriously looking at as we have far too many injuries of that type at this club.

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