Town have begun talks with midfielder Luke Hyam regarding a new contract, TWTD understands.

The 24-year-old’s current deal is set to end in the summer, although the club has an option for a further season.

Hyam has recently returned to action after almost 11 months out with a knee injury and manager Mick McCarthy, a big fan of the former Northgate High School pupil, is keen to extend his stay at the club he supported as a boy.

We understand a contract - probably along the lines of the two-year deals with options for third seasons recently handed to other senior players - isn’t too far from being agreed.

Over the weekend, Hyam was linked with Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City and Bristol City, while a number of other clubs are also keen on the academy product, who spent time on loan at Rotherham before Christmas.

Hyam is expected to return to the Town starting line-up for this evening’s home game against Reading in place of the suspended Jonathan Douglas.

Photo: Action Images

MaySixth added 12:30 - Feb 2 Average.
-14

essexboy added 12:31 - Feb 2 Sign him up,Quick.😄😄
4

rinkydinkpanther added 12:32 - Feb 2 Meh.
-12

Bluebell added 12:33 - Feb 2 That's great news. He's one of our own and has developed into a good player. Tommy Smith next please Mick.
11

PJH added 12:35 - Feb 2 Good news,get it sorted.
10

hampstead_blue added 12:49 - Feb 2 First thing I would do is insert s 'Good haircut' clause. This current crop is shocking!
5

SouperJim added 12:49 - Feb 2 Blimey, we're all a bit underwhelmed at the moment, but the day I'm not happy to see a quality homegrown player like Hyam sign a new contract is the day I stop following ITFC. Some of you need to get a grip.
11

Mr_Evans added 12:59 - Feb 2 As much as he is a nice lad, he is, at best, an average championship player. I don't think he'd be able to make the starting 11 for any of the teams above us in the league. A good back up player to have but I feel the only reason he is still at the club is because he is a 'MaCarthy type player'. Bottom line is we need better players than we have. Albeit MM doesn't think so.

9

muccletonjoe added 13:05 - Feb 2 He is a solid championship player, one I would want to get signed up ASAP. We have a better chance tonight with him playing instead of Douglas. Imo
5

Surco72 added 13:16 - Feb 2 Personally would like to see Hyam in the proper defensive holding role than Skuse , believe he has more bite and dominates himself on games more than Skuse . Don't think the two of them playing in there has ever worked as neither can open up defences or add a goal threat
1

theipswichman added 13:16 - Feb 2 'I don't think he'd make the starting 11 for any of the teams above us in the league'... I really couldn't care less if he got into the teams above us, were not them, Luke is a very good player and in my opinion largely underrated with the work he gets through. I said it a while ago that he should play ahead of Douglas and I still believe the same.
0

WhoisJimmyJuan added 13:27 - Feb 2 Even if you accept Hyam is an average player at Championship level, we are frankly not much more than average Championship club. Given he is a local lad to boot I am more than happy to see him sign up even if long term he is just a back up.
1

WorcesterBlue added 13:27 - Feb 2 Yes Luke isn't the greatest player but I like him as a midfield holding player - he has energy, can tackle, is far from slow and can pass (albeit sometimes forwards which appears to be an issue for some!). Play him with the likes of Bishop, AMN, Fraser and Bru and his creative inadequacies become irrelevant. Skuse and Douglas in front of our dodgy back 5 hasn't worked so let's try something different. Attack, attack, attack as they say.

0

muhrensleftfoot added 13:28 - Feb 2 Good news. If he can stay injury free,he will develop into one of the best midfielders in the Championship. If he could add a couple of goals to his game, then the sky's the limit for him. Always good to see a local lad do well.
0

Keaneish added 13:44 - Feb 2 Surco - couldn't agree more.
2

sotd78 added 13:55 - Feb 2 Just occasionally I take time out from watching the ball all the time in a game and actually watching one player. Skuse, Hyam, Murphy - it's quite eye-opening how much work they actually do off the ball. Intriguingly our record with Hyam in our team is better than without him. And it is that off the ball work that attracts MM. I rate Luke Hyam - above Douglas, Bru and most anyone in centre midfield except perhaps Skuse. Having said that none would top a modern day Jim Magilton - just where do we go for one of those?

4

BackTheBlues added 13:57 - Feb 2 Think we need to start building a team around - Hyam, Smith and one or two other mid 20's players. Hyam is not the technically most gifted player in the championship, but he does a good job in the middle, winning the ball back and working hard for the team! Would have him in my starting XI all week! One of our own and what our club 'used to be built upon' Makes you die - the people that have commented on here saying they're not bothered about this are also the ones who are unhappy with us not spending millions and millions! Where is your affiliation with our 'family' home grown club?

2

OsborneOneNil added 14:38 - Feb 2 Fair play, decent squad member. Not much more. Better than Skuse though.
-2

Seasider added 14:40 - Feb 2 Agree with Surco.Also think Cole Skues could be a midfield general as I have seen him make splendid forward passes,though not enough;he also has a good shot on him. My only worry though that by playing Luke a bit further back,he could give away the odd free kick or pen. I say the above because it appears that our Manager in his Yorkshire wisdom,has decided we don't need anymore first team players.

1

warbeat78 added 14:49 - Feb 2 There seems to be something more positive in his game since returning from injury, he might just be ready to take his game up a few notches! A fine opportunity over the next three games to stake a claim
0

brian_a_mul added 14:50 - Feb 2 He is physically capable at this level and appears to be strong character. He has ability and showed it in glimpses. With more experience and coaching he could well become a top Championship midfielder in a few seasons and a useful squad player in PL :)
1

LowstBlue added 15:22 - Feb 2 Glad to see this, he is young enough to have a bright future at the club and can get better. He is a holding midfielder who may improve and certainly has the legs on Douglas. I'd also say that if we had "out and out" attacking full backs, the value of playing 2 holding midfielders would become apparent. What surprises me is why anyone would say he is better than Skuse right now. I'd be surprised if Skuse wasn't our PotY.

0

tractorshark added 15:38 - Feb 2 PortMoan Road in full voice over the past few days. This site makes me laugh. Moan at McCarthy for not giving youngsters a chance, moan at him and Evans for not splashing the cash on players who would stifle their progress. Yes, Hyam isn't the best midfielder in the Championship but he's decent back-up and young enough to still improve. I would love us to have spent big money on a new player but I'm delighted we're protecting our assets by giving Hyam a new deal. People are indifferent because they've seen his limitations but those same limitations perhaps apply to Emmanuel, Kenlock and Co - maybe even Bradley Dack - but that's conveniently ignored. Our fans should be on suicide watch, the way they react to every bit of news right now. Our season is not over, far from it. Maybe it's time some you lot show the kind of fight you demand from the players.

3

sixtyblue added 15:40 - Feb 2 It's obvious that Micky has chucked in the towel with regard to promotion.Its folly to offer contracts before the. Season has ended and then the situation of promotion is settled.If we were promoted ME would ave to spend about sixty million to bolster the present players we have in the present team into lower Premiership side
1

TimmyH added 15:42 - Feb 2 Hasn't improved one iota under MM I'm afraid but that could be because Mick largely plays him beside Skuse when he does start (like tonight) and they simply don't complement each other. Good tackler and likes to put himself about but passing and the creative side to his game has sadly been missing.
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls