Town manager Mick McCarthy says Cameron Stewart continued to impress him during the Blues’ training camp at the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare last week.
Stewart’s Town career looked to have ended before it had begun in earnest having made just two 2014/15 FA Cup sub appearances since signing for the Blues in the summer of 2014 following his release by Hull City.
The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Doncaster Rovers after being made available in pre-season having been left out of the Ireland training camp. In April, Manager Mick McCarthy reiterated his intention to allow the Mancunian to move on.
However, at the start of pre-season training earlier this month, McCarthy, whose squad is currently short of wingers, said Stewart could work his way back into his plans having returned to the club fitter than has been the case in previous summers.
He says the former Manchester United trainee is continuing to impress him: "He is. He’s come back fit, which, to be honest, is the first time he’s come back as fit and as lean as that.
"I’m saying nothing to you that I’ve not said to him and he knows that he wasn’t in any good shape.
"I think he knows I’d be justified in telling him to get lost, to stay away. But I’m not like that. And if he came back and he shows a willingness to work and do what I want him to do [he stood a chance of getting back in my plans].
"You can see he’s got ability, we’ve all seen that from the start, so it’s a fresh start for him.
"If it is it’ll be great, I’ll be delighted. I’d sooner have a contribution from him, I’d not want him ostracised and gone elsewhere, I don’t with any player. But in the past that’s probably what he’s deserved. It’s up to him.”
After two seasons in which Stewart’s career has drifted, McCarthy believes the penny may have dropped.
"You hope so, I think it has,” he added. "It’s a prerequisite to come back fit and as agile and as lean and ready to go, and he’s done that this year. So, if he does that I’ll give him a chance.”
Meanwhile, he says youngsters such as Shane McLoughlin, Ben Morris, Monty Patterson and James Blanchfield, all of whom were involved on Saturday, are at the same stage of their development that Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock were this time last year.
"I’m having a look and trying them out,” he said. "I thought James Blanchfield was different class when he came on, his touch and his vision. He put three lovely passes through and we were unlucky we didn’t score off them.”