Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’d be happy for right-back Elliott Hewitt to remain on loan with Colchester beyond the end of his current loan spell. The Wales U21 international is currently due to return to Portman Road on November 2nd.
The 20-year-old made his fourth appearance for the U’s in Tuesday night’s 2-1 home victory over Chesterfield and the Blues manager is pleased to see him playing football regularly.
"That’s why I let him go off to Colchester,” he said. "We’ve had him watched, he’s doing OK but at least I know if I have any problems after the 28 days I have a recall.”
Colchester boss Tony Humes has already said he’d like to keep Hewitt at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and McCarthy wouldn’t have a problem with extending the spell.
"I won’t recall him unless I need him but he’ll be ready to go [if needed],” he added.
Can Hewitt push Jonny Parr for the right-back role on his eventual return? "I would say so, he needs to play. He’s got things [to learn].
"You can practise them in training all day long; defending the far post, one-v-ones, in possession and getting up and down the pitch.
"You can do all of that but it’s better done in a competitive environment in a game situation.”
Had he still been at Portman Road Hewitt would have been in contention for a start against Huddersfield on Saturday with Parr likely to switch from right-back to left-back with Tyrone Mings suspended for one game having picked up his fifth booking of the season at Cardiff.
With Hewitt absent, McCarthy seems likely to move skipper Luke Chambers to right-back and bring Tommy Smith back into the centre of the defence.