Luke Chambers is full of praise for the all-round contribution of namesake Luke Hyam while emphasising that the former Northgate High School pupil is still not the finished article.
Chambers said: "Luke will always get better because he’s still young. To play the amount of games he has this season is fantastic. In every game he is trying to make things happen, trying to enforce himself on the game and make an impact.
"He wins tackles and headers — he’s a proper fans’ player and that’s why they rate him so highly. He puts in the work and covers the ground but he has added that bit extra to his game in recent weeks by getting forward and setting up goals.”
Hyam, 21, hit the 50 appearances mark in the 1-0 away win at Derby and is amongst the contenders for the Supporters' Player of the Year accolade, having been named the club's most improved player during 2012/13 by manager Mick McCarthy at last night's end of season dinner.
Chambers, who carried off the Players' Player of the Year award at the dinner, added: "Luke’s got a very bright future ahead of him if he keeps his head down, which I know he will because he’s a fantastic lad and he’s got his head screwed on.
"He’s a quiet lad but in training every day it is just like a match to him. If there’s a tackle to be won he’ll go through with it. He prepares well, he’s a top professional and with the manager and TC here now they’re only going to improve him.”
Meanwhile, vice-captain Chambers has admitted that skippering Town on a number of occasions this season has been hugely rewarding but is happy for Carlos Edwards to continue in the role.
He said: "I’ve been very privileged in my career to be captain of a massive club in Nottingham Forest and to come here, another massive club, and to be handed an armband.
"It’s a little boost for me, personally, but whether I’ve got the armband or not I’m always going to be the same. The lads know what I’m about and what I bring to the team.
"It’s nice if it happens but at the minute Carlos is our captain. I’m not even thinking about the captaincy at this moment in time.
"It’s been a tough, tough season for me coming down here. We’ve had to bite and scratch for everything we’ve got. We’ve got something to focus on — making sure we get safe — and I’m looking forward to the future after that.”