Town comeback man Luke Hyam has expressed his gratitude to Championship rivals Rotherham after a loan stint with them helped to speed up his recovery from a long-term knee injury.
Academy graduate Hyam started two games and came off the bench in a further three as he gained valuable game time with the Millers before being recalled to Portman Road by manager Mick McCarthy just before Christmas and then making his first Ipswich appearance in almost a year as a second-half substitute in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Brighton.
Hyam said: "It went well at Rotherham. It was great and I really enjoyed my time there. I was there for nearly a month and I had never been anywhere but Ipswich before I joined them.
"It was both a good learning curve and a good life experience for me and I’m glad I did it.
"I am grateful to Rotherham for giving me the game time and now I’m back here I am looking to get back in the team and helping them as much as I can.
"It was all a bit of rush when I got the call to say I was wanted back in Ipswich. I messaged one of the lads I became best mates with during my time there and told him I was going back.
"It was a Sunday so I didn’t even have time to collect my boots and trainers. The stadium was closed so I couldn’t get to them and I think somebody at the club will have inherited them.
"Dave Bowman [Town’s director of football] messaged me to say he had a couple of pairs of new boots for me so I knew I was covered in that department. It only takes a few training sessions to break them in these days.
"I just got into my car and drove home. It was all a bit surreal because I just packed my bags and got going.
"I enjoyed my time up there and I’m glad I had my time with Rotherham. It was good for me to get game time and step up my fitness levels.”
The only negative during his time in South Yorkshire was that he had the misfortune to mar his first start with an own goal, which was all that separated the sides when the relegation-threatened Millers travelled to Blackburn and boss Neil Redfearn promoted him to the starting line-up following two appearances from the bench.
Hyam added: "It was typical of the year I had and just about summed it all up. It was just one of those things — I tried to get my head to a cross and unfortunately for me the ball ended up in the back of the net. I felt terrible but it could have happened to anyone.
"All the lads up there were really good with me and welcomed me to the club. It was the same with the manager and all the staff, and I wish them all the best.
"I started a couple of games for them and came on in another three as well. Then I had 40 minutes or so the other night, but it’s hard when you have been out for as long as I was to get back to the level of fitness you need. I don’t think I’m too far away from it now though.”