Boss Mick McCarthy was delighted to see 19-year-old right-back Kyle Hammond back in action for the U21s last week after 10 months out with an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury.
The former Westbourne High School pupil, who signed a one-year pro deal last summer, came on as a second-half sub during the 1-1 draw with Cardiff at Playford Road.
"It was wonderful,” McCarthy said. "I loved seeing him back because I love him as a kid and love the attitude he’s shown towards being injured and his rehabilitation.
"It was great and he’s trained with [the first-team squad] for the last couple of days. It’s been really lovely to see him.”
Hammond spent most of pre-season ahead of 2013/14 campaign with the senior squad and looked set to make his first-team breakthrough until he picked up an earlier knee problem which kept him out for 12 weeks and then his more serious injury - to the other knee - in March last year.
Asked whether he he expects Hammond to be in the first-team picture during the next campaign, McCarthy added: "Who knows where we’ll be at the start of next season?
"We don’t know, do we? We could be a Premier League team at the start of next season, that’s what we’re aiming for.
"I think Kyle’s got a future in the game, whether it’s at that level or not I don’t know but he was doing really, really well, he’s been out for 10 months. Let’s give him a chance before I start setting what he’s going to be doing.
"He’s got to get some football. He’s not played at this level at all, but he’s trained with us in the last couple of days and he’s been a breath of fresh air.”
Meanwhile, 17-year-old central midfielder Kundai Benyu, a first-year academy scholar who has impressed in the U21s throughout the season, travelled with the first-team squad for the first time ahead of the Brighton game, having been handed senior squad number 31.
"I just wanted to hear him sing on the night before, that’s all!” McCarthy joked, referring to the now traditional song players new to the squad have to sing as part of their initiation. "They told me he’s a good singer. What a lie that was!
"He’s done OK. I wanted enough numbers there. It doesn’t do them any harm to travel with the first team and see what goes on, how it’s done, the importance of things that we do.
"I know they do it further down but as a kid you just take it for granted that it’s all going on.
"Then you see it in the first team and we’re doing all the same things that they are but at a different level, so it’s always good for them to see.”