Manager Mick McCarthy says he’s been delighted with midfielder Luke Hyam since he took over at Portman Road just under a month ago. The 21-year-old is set to start for the first time under McCarthy’s management against Nottingham Forest at Portman Road tonight (KO 7.45pm).
"I’ve been pleased with Luke and quite clearly he seems to be a favourite, a lad that’s come through the club and through the youths,” McCarthy said.
"I think fans always like to see that and he got a warm reception coming on [on Saturday]. He’s done fine. I’ve no worries about him if he has to play.”
The Blues boss subsequently confirmed that the former Northgate High School pupil will start tonight, having been left out of the new manager’s first game in charge, despite being one if the few members of the Town team which lost at home to Sheffield Wednesday the previous week to have come out of the match with any credit.
McCarthy says he explained his decision to the academy product: "I spoke to him [before the Birmingham game], I knew he’d been in the team and Josh Carson had been in the team. But I thought it was a game for senior players and we won the game and I was proved right.
"That doesn’t mean to say that it’s going to be like that every game. What he’s done is get his head down and trained.
"I thought he was one of the better ones at Walsham-le-Willows in terms of his attitude and the way that he went about his job. That tells me a lot about people.”
McCarthy says he doesn’t get distracted by factors such as whether players are fans’ favourites or otherwise when picking his team: "I look at it objectively, I don’t get wrapped up in what other people think.
"I’m not really bothered because if you form a committee to design a horse, you end up with a camel.
"I think it’s great when the youngsters come through the ranks and they get in and they get readily accepted. But, to counter that, if they’re not doing particularly well the first thing people start shouting is for you to buy somebody.
"And I’ve seen it where some of the local lads are the first to get the abuse as well, which is kind of sad. But he got a lovely reception and I hope he gets a lovely reception on Tuesday when he starts.”
Another popular figure who hasn’t been getting a game lately is keeper Scott Loach, who was dropped in favour of loanee Stephen Henderson late in Paul Jewell’s time as boss.
McCarthy says Loach is coping with being on the bench and feels West Ham man Henderson proved his worth during the Peterborough match: "Scott’s dealing with it OK, like he has to do.
"There are three keepers with Arran as well, and only one spot. I’m sure when goals are flying in Scott is thinking he might get his chance, but he was injured beforehand anyway.
"I think you’ve got to give a bit of faith to goalkeepers, have a bit of belief. I don’t think Hendo had a lot in front of him protecting him when all those goals were flying in [at Leicester].
"Maybe he could have done a bit better with a couple of them, but he wasn’t given protection. He was excellent I thought on Saturday.”