Blues boss Paul Jewell says young midfielders Josh Carson and Luke Hyam have made progress this season despite only rarely appearing in the first team. Carson, who was back in the side which lost 2-1 to Leicester on Monday, has made only six starts and 10 sub appearances, scoring twice, while Hyam has been in the XI seven times and has come off the bench once.
Despite this, Jewell says the duo are moving in the right direction: "I just had a chat with Luke and Josh Carson.
"I said to Josh that although he hasn’t played a lot of football, I’m really pleased with him. I know this sounds daft, but he’s made progress as a professional. His outlook in training is terrific.
"Luke Hyam is exactly the same and they both deserve credit because they’re good, young players who have got a really good attitude.
"They might not always be in the team at the moment, but they’re always in my thoughts and they’re always pushing people.”
The Blues boss admits that Hyam might have been on his way out of the club but a spell of good performances during January and February: "Luke, three months ago, before he got in the team, was probably looking to move on at the end of the season. He deserves great credit for turning it around here and he wants to get in the team.
"I’ve said to Josh, to keep fighting, keep working because whatever happens, if you’re not in the team, you’re always better off training properly and maturing as men as well as footballers.
In February, Carson signed a new contract keeping him at Portman Road until the summer of 2014, with the option of a further year, while Hyam put pen to paper on a deal until the end of next season.