Town boss Mick McCarthy says recalled loanee Luke Hyam and returning injury absentees Ryan Fraser and Luke Varney will be determined to break into the starting line-up during the Christmas and New Year fixtures. Hyam, 24, was brought back from his spell at Rotherham early yesterday having previously been out of action for more than 10 months with a knee injury.
"They’re all itching to start, the ones that have been injured even more so,” McCarthy said.” Luke Hyam went to Rotherham and had his games. I think he had 15 minutes, then half an hour, 75 minutes and he played 90 on Saturday and they were delighted with him.
"But I want him around here. We’ve got three big games coming up in a week and he adds to the squad.”
The Town boss says he’s seen little of Hyam’s time with the Millers but knows what he’ll get from him now he’s back.
"I didn’t [see Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Hull City] as I had a game myself, but I did see his own goal [against Blackburn] on television. That was the only thing I’ve seen of him, which is sad really, considering.
"But I don’t need to see him, all I need is to know that he’s fit. I know all about his ability, all he can do, what he’s really good at, what he’s not so good at. That is no problem to me at all.
"What I wanted to see was whether he could compete for 90 minutes and get back and is injury free, and he is, so I’m delighted.”
McCarthy says Hyam was recalled with the intention of playing games during a holiday period in which the Blues face a tough home game against QPR on Boxing Day, then similarly difficult visits to Brighton on December 29th and then Burnley on January 2nd.
"If I’d no thoughts of him being involved I wouldn’t have brought him back and he’ll be involved in the squad on Saturday,” the Town manager said.
"He played Saturday for Rotherham but it may well be he’s on the bench for us because we’ve been going well ourselves.
"But we’ve got three big games coming up over the holiday period so I’ll probably need all the help I can get.”
He says Ipswich-born Hyam offers something different to some of his other midfield players and not just his roots as a fan of the club who progressed through to the senior side from the academy.
"He’s come through the club, he’s got the club at heart, definitely, but then I think the other players have as well,” McCarthy said. "But maybe you have a little bit of a percentage more because you come through the club and the academy and he has the club at heart.
"He’s just such an all-round combative player that puts his foot in. I’m looking at Brighton away and Burnley away and I’m thinking we might need all his getting around the pitch, winning tackles, the defensive qualities that he has.
"He’s a different player, he doesn’t have Kevin Bru’s ability on the ball or his passing range but Bru wouldn’t have Luke’s all-round tenacity, defending, tackling, the way he goes about the game and drives people on.
"If we could put them both together we’d have a top Premier League player, wouldn’t we! He’s got other qualities and he’s welcome back.”
When Hyam was offered the chance to go out on loan, McCarthy said the former Northgate High School pupil wasn’t initially keen, but his manager says that’s just how players can be.
"Footballers are the most insecure people in the world,” he added. "We - I was a footballer - some of us more than others are insecure and worry about the motives behind it.
"‘What am I going on loan for? Does he not fancy me any more? Aren’t I going to play in the team? Is he trying to sell me? Trying to get shot of me?’.
"Actually, I wanted him to get some games so he could come back and compete for my team and as it’s worked out that’s what’s happening.
"I had to explain myself in triplicate on that one, to be honest. But I get that, I understand that.”