Town boss Mick McCarthy believes midfielder Luke Hyam is now an even better player following his loan spell at Rotherham, the 24-year-old previously having missed almost 11 months of football with a knee injury.

“I’m delighted with him,” McCarthy said. “I think he’s come back better and what’s really nice is that he now appreciates the fact that when I said to him I’d like him to go and have some games out on loan it was for a reason, to get him back here so he was fit to play, not to put him out to Rotherham, out of sight, out of mind and he wasn’t going to get a new contract.

“Footballers are the most insecure people in the whole world, I think. When they’re not playing and contracts are coming to an end everything’s a worry.

“He’s come back, he’s in the team and I think he’s been great. I think he’s been better than when he left, actually.

“I’ve spoken to him this morning, I’ve told him all of that and that I want to sign him again and keep him on his contract.

“He’s got this season and a year left, we’ve got an option on him and we will be taking that option. But we want to take that option and add to it and give him a new deal.”

As TWTD revealed on Tuesday, the Blues are in talks with Hyam about a new contract, although McCarthy says those discussions are still ongoing: “Nothing’s agreed on his contract, we’re just speaking to him.”

He added: “He’s a fabulous professional. If you ever see him train, just the physical specimen of him, the gym work that he does and all his rehab and now he’s doing his prehab before training, his pre-training work.

“He really is a smashing fella, and it’s nice that he’s one of us, as they keep reminding me!”

Hyam himself says the loan at Rotherham, during which time he made two starts and three sub appearances, was a very valuable exercise.

“When you come through the academy, you feel like a young player all the time,” he told the club site. “I have certainly felt that here.

“When you go to another club though, it makes you feel like ‘a footballer’. Rotherham did that for me. It helped me grow up in some ways, on and off the pitch.

“It helped me a lot. It gave me a lot of life experiences, not just football. It has made me feel more confident in everything I do. I feel like I have come away from being a young player now.

“It was the best thing I could have done. It did me the world of good, meeting new people, seeing how another club runs. It also made me appreciate what a big club Ipswich is as well.”

Photo: Action Images

Jimmy86 added 09:18 - Feb 5 Would definitely echo those sentiments. His loan has really brought him on as a player. I've never been his biggest fan and don't buy into the "1 of our own" sentimental outlook. Clouded the fact at times he was just bang average. Noticed a real difference in him since he came back from his loan. He's better on the ball, more forward thinking, as a first option, whereas it used to be backwards or sideways.

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theipswichman added 10:57 - Feb 5 100% agree with the above, unfortunately Hyam is one of those players people already have an preconceived opinion of before he plays so they highlight any mistake he makes. However he has looked better going forward since returning, I think back to the preston game and he should've won us a stonewall penalty all by getting into the box and shooting.
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hogster1970 added 11:39 - Feb 5 Well as a ipswich supporter you always love one of our own for that fact. Yes at times he was a bit of a headless chicken and some.of his passes wasn't great. But he gives 100 percent and closes players down and in there face which means he either blocks the pass and make it wayward. And as others have said his forward play is getting better. He is a bit of a Roy Keane type midfielder than a steven jerrard but we need that. I think atm he is deservedly ahead of Douglas for that fact. And the sending off for him has came at the right time. Let's see how he goes in the next 2 games. Esp if bru starts ahead of him then may link up well on the ball. Well let's hope any way

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prebsa added 11:43 - Feb 5 I am not Hyams biggest fan and i'm happy to admit it and I too don't believe people should be picked because they are "one of our own". I also still believe that he shouldent start with skuse just like I don't really like douglas with skuse. Having said that however I do think he has got better! For me he always seemed to make stupid tackles and pick up yellows that weren't needed and that's something he has cut out of late. He also takes more time on the ball and has a better head on when to make the pass which I like. Do I love Hyam? No I don't, but I do see his improvement and I do think he is a good player to have in our squad and I would definitely be extending his contract!

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Fatcatevans added 16:43 - Feb 5 Hogster get a reality check. To compare Hyam in any way to great players like Keane and Gerrard is quite ludicrous. The lad is fit and runs about passes sideways and is a local boy. Keane and Gerrard were tremendous world class footballers
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