Midfielder Luke Hyam’s loan move to Rotherham United, which was first revealed by TWTD yesterday morning, has been confirmed. The 24-year-old will be with the Millers until January 23rd.
"I spoke to my agent and the Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy and they told me that Rotherham were interested in taking me on loan,” Hyam told the official Millers website.
"They asked me what I thought and I was keen to come straight away. I always look forward to a challenge. I’ve never moved previously. I’ve always played at Ipswich all my career but I just need to play some games now so this is a great opportunity.”
Hyam, who is contracted to the Blues until next summer with that dal understood to include an option for a further year, is on the way back from a knee problem which he first suffered in January and which required surgery in the summer.
The Blues academy product is very much in McCarthy’s long-term plans but is currently unlikely to play first-team games at Portman Road as he continues his recovery with the Town manager having plenty of other central midfield options available to him.
"If he comes back having had all the time out and gets fit and then he doesn’t play and he travels with us and he doesn’t play, travels with us and doesn’t play again, he loses all the benefit of all his rehab,” McCarthy said last Friday.
"If we can put him out for a month, which I think we probably can, and he’s happy to do it, then that’s what will happen.”
The former Northgate High School pupil, who made his return for Town’s U21s at QPR last week, says he’s looking forward to getting back into senior action.
"It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to play first-team football, so this is a great opportunity for me to get some games and try to impress and help get some points for Rotherham,” he added.
"I am a hard working player and I like to get stuck in. I know the club is close to the bottom but I like to roll my sleeves up and get stuck into the challenge. I like to get up and down the pitch and hopefully I can do that here and do a good job for the team.
#rufc have signed @Official_ITFC midfielder Luke Hyam on an Emergency Loan until January, subject to FA ratifcation pic.twitter.com/dhkhg7c9qo– Rotherham United (@OfficialRUFC) November 26, 2015
"I played with Frazer Richardson, Paul Green and Danny Collins whilst I was at Ipswich. They are all top guys and from what the manager said it is a really good group of lads here so I am looking forward to meeting them all and training with them today.”
Hyam, who subsequently trained with his new team-mates this morning, can be recalled by Town at 24 hours’ notice after the first 28 days of the loan.
Football League clubs have until 5pm today to sign players via the emergency loan facility.
Speaking on Friday of last week, McCarthy had no plans to add to his squad before the deadline, while he was also open to the likes of Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock going out on loan to gain experience.
Yesterday, 21-year-old striker James Alabi joined Grimsby Town on loan.