Blues manager Mick McCarthy says midfielder Luke Hyam is smiling again after finally making his return to action during Monday’s 0-0 U23s draw at West Brom, having been sidelined since pre-season with a knee injury. Tommy Smith also featured in the game against the Baggies as he continued his recovery from the back operation he underwent in September.

Hyam, 26, who eventually required surgery on nerve damage having missed much of the previous campaign with an unrelated knee problem, played 65 minutes at the Hawthorns.

“He came through it fine, he’s got a big smile on his face, it’s lovely to see,” McCarthy said. “He’d been pretty down about it, I would say.

“He’d had so long out from what had seemed like an innocuous knock against Cambridge in a pre-season friendly and we’re here in February and he’s still not played a first-team game. In fact he’s only had that one U23s game.

“It’s incredible how that has happened. It was just one of those injuries. I understood him being down but having him back is great and he’s trained today, and he looks the part, so whether he needs another game or not [I’m not sure], he’s a fit lad. But I don’t think he would be ready to start a game.”

McCarthy says Smith will be in the squad for tomorrow’s game at home to Leeds, although like Hyam the central defender isn’t ready to start.

“He’s had two U23s games and he’s come through them all right,” the Town boss added. “Whether he’s absolutely 100 per cent to play in the Championship is another matter. But he’s injury free. We’ve missed Tommy at times, he’s a really good defender.”

Available for the senior squad for the first time since joining the club is winger Danny Rowe.

The 24-year-old made an impressive first appearance in a Town shirt for the U23s in the recent 8-0 thrashing of Watford but made way at half-time with a groin injury which kept him out of training until yesterday.

McCarthy would be delighted if Rowe emulates the success of another winger he signed from non-league, Michael Kightly who he took from Grays Athletic when Wolves boss.

“Oh, I hope so, I really hope so,” he said. “Anybody who comes out of non-league and is as good as Michael Kightly, that would be a success story for all of us.”

Photo: TWTD

Brownie added 09:40 - Feb 17 Some good injury news at last. Keep battling away Luke it will be great to get you back in the first team fold!
3

hoppy added 10:33 - Feb 17 Shame you only had a picture of him frowning to go with that headline...
1

Bluebell added 10:51 - Feb 17 He would mess up the hairstyle if he smiled Hoppy! Good to have Luke back. Hopefully he can get back to how he was before the injury (apart from the tackle that got him a red card at Brentford). He really has 'beefed' up from the young lad who used to play for us.
2

Pilgrimblue added 12:10 - Feb 17 It'll be great to see him again competing for place in squad (hopefully at expense of Douglas) and just needs a run to get his confidence back and maybe he'll be part of our future
2

blueboy1981 added 20:27 - Feb 17 Good to see any player coming back from injury - let's hope Hyam's focus is from this point on playing, not preening - and being afraid of upsetting that hairstyle.
0

dommyboyblue added 20:51 - Feb 17 Great to see Luke H back. For me I always preferred him to Skuse in that defensive midfield role as he was more of a tenacious tackler. Think it was to his detriment that he played alongside Skuse because he had to force himself to play a game that was not his. Lets hope we see the best of him now!
2

shakytown added 00:30 - Feb 18 Sorry but just not good enough. Will make no difference as he has no skill at all just a lump who kicks people. Sell asap or just release and free up wages for talented players who can take the club forward.
-2

iaintaylorx added 09:30 - Feb 21 Dommyboyblue, I completely agree with you. Always liked Hyam and in the defensive midfield role, he will definitely do a good job. He isn't an attacking midfield at all, but is passionate and gets stuck in which is what we all love to see.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls