Midfielder Luke Hyam is hoping to return to training at the start of November having endured a frustrating, injury hit 2015.

The 23-year-old initially suffered his knee injury in the FA Cup replay against Southampton at Portman Road in January and having broken down when having been close to a comeback on a number of occasions eventually underwent surgery during pre-season.

“We have pencilled in a date of November 2nd for me to return to full training,” Hyam said in an interview with Saturday’s match programme. “That is what we are hoping for but it’s a case of one day at a time.

“The next step is for me to start working with [Town fitness coach] Andy Liddell outside. I have spoken to [physio Matt Byard] and looked at the possibility of talking to a sports psychologist as well.

“I might do that. My knee went two or three times before the surgery and having not played for a year, I might be a bit tentative when I start increasing my work. I know though, that as soon as I’ve got that first tackle out of the way, that first shot, I’ll be fine.”

Hyam has been undergoing his rehab alongside Luke Varney, who went under the knife having ruptured his achilles in the first leg of the play-off with Norwich.

The 33-year-old is currently a free agent having left Saturday's opponents Blackburn at the end of last season following his loan spell with the Blues but is expected to sign a contract with Town once he is fit.

“Luke Varney and me are looking to get back at a similar time,” Hyam added. “He’s been out longer than me. He did his achilles in the play-off game while I didn’t have surgery until we were back in pre-season but over the next few weeks I will be catching up with him.

“I have been doing gymnastics with him and it does help that Varns has been around. He’s a top guy. He has said that he can see me catching him up but he’s pleased for me. It’s helped his recovery as well, I think.”

Former Northgate High School pupil Hyam, who is contracted until the summer of 2016 with the deal understood to include an option for a further season, knows it won’t be an easy job to win a place in the team once he is finally back to full fitness.

“This is the best squad I have seen in my time at the club, even going back to when Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi were here scoring goals and I was watching from the stands as part of the Academy,” he reflected.

“I think we have got a good chance of getting promoted but we know what’s ahead of us. I’m in the last year of my contract as well and want to do enough to extend my stay here so I’ve got some big challenges in front of me.”

Photo: Action Images

cornishnick added 11:50 - Sep 30 Who?
-10

iaintaylorx added 12:25 - Sep 30 good news! think we have a really strong midfield when fully fit! skuse, bru, bish, hyam, douglas. all good in different aspects, and that'a always good to have some quality in depth in such an important position.
4

OldClactonBlue added 12:26 - Sep 30 Did anyone else see that Paul Anderson broke his leg playing for Bradford at the weekend. Didn't deserve that.
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hogster1970 added 12:26 - Sep 30 well i still feel a combo of luke bishop/bru in the center of midfield is the best we have at the moment, his aggression and closing down players who are on the ball is far better than scuse and douglas, yes his distribution can be a bit wayward at times but so can scuses and certainly douglas at the moment, we certainly have lacked that recently and we have not domintated the midfield, which is a shame because with fraser and niles on the wings and get either scuse up to speed like the end of last year or hyam along with bishop or bru, personaly i prefer teddy boy as he seems to have the extra sharpness to turn the ball and head towards goal or finding that killer pass, but we will see, as we all know mick has his favorites, so they better perform on saturday or its going to be a long break,

3

Ryorry added 12:55 - Sep 30 Great news, a real challenge psychologically as well as physically to come back from such a sequence of injuries. Wishing him and Varney full and successful returns to the pitch soon, both top lads. Very interesting and encouraging comments by Hyam re the squad too.
3

ParisBlue added 13:38 - Sep 30 Much prefer him over Douglas - he was often very good this time last season and was even starting to get forward more. With more attacking wide options a Skuse/Hyam partnership is a better option than it was last season.
3

Wickets added 16:23 - Sep 30 Got to be a long road back for Luke but at his best his energy must get him the nod over Douglas, if Mick persists with 2 holders. Lets hope he can get back.
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ArnieM added 16:46 - Sep 30 Good Luck Luke. Get yer butt back on that pitch. ..."He's one of our own"!
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runningout added 17:10 - Sep 30 Think Luke may have to wait longer if we are pushing for promotion.... Needs to be stronger than before, both mentally and physically...
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TimmyH added 19:28 - Sep 30 ...poor Luke completely an injury prone player, must really effect him on the pitch knowing at any time a mistimed tackle or an awkward fall and he'll be out for weeks/months once again, that's if he doesn't break down in training before getting to the main stage.
0

Jimmy86 added 23:41 - Sep 30 Think he'll find it very hard getting into the squad, let alone the team when he's back fit. They tried turning him into a box to box, attacking midfielder, a role he was never suitable for. He's an adequate holding midfielder, but not of the required ability of a promotion chasing side. Take away the "1 of our own" sentiment and ask yourself would he get in a top 6 team??

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itfchorry added 00:59 - Oct 1 Cornish_ick
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dubblue added 12:02 - Oct 1 Good news indeed but agree he may struggle to get into the first team unless we are hit by injuries or poor form something we don't want.
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