Emyr Huws is poised to make his first official start as a Town player tomorrow at Aston Villa, scene of his first goal for the club to clinch a very valuable three points back in February this year.
Huws was on loan from Cardiff at the time and he went on to make a total of 13 league appearances, scoring three goals, which was enough to convince manager Mick McCarthy to make the move permanent in the summer at a cost of around £750,000.
A lengthy injury absence finally ended in midweek when he came on as a substitute in the second half of the 2-2 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday, making an almost immediate impact with the cross from which leading scorer Martyn Waghorn headed Town’s second goal, taking his tally for the season to nine from just 12 Championship starts since his summer move from Rangers.
Now Huws is a leading contender to be in from the start at Villa Park, especially with David McGoldrick ruled out for around a month following surgery to repair a four-inch gash in his groin following an ugly fourth minute challenge from Owls’ skipper Glenn Loovens, who somehow escaped any punishment when a red card looked to be appropriate.
Huws, 24, said: "It was really good to be back playing again. I was really chuffed to be back and the reception I got was really nice, so I am thankful to the fans for that and for being patient with me.
"They have always supported me so it was a really good night, apart from the result. I was delighted to be involved and it was a great header from Waggy. I was just gutted that we conceded so late but the performance was really good.”
Asked if he had been itching to get involved and if he was ‘making noises’ on the bench, the Welsh midfielder replied: "I’m always making noises but I’m just thankful to the gaffer for always believing in me since I’ve been here and I am looking to repay him for that.
"I feel good and I’m ready to start if that’s what the gaffer decides he wants to do. I’ve played a few games for the U23s and been training for a while now so I feel good and hopefully there are many more games to come.
"I remember the win at Villa last season — that was a good game. We were under the cosh a bit at the start but we held on and nicked the win.
"It was a good result and I’ve got to admit I’ve watched my goal back a few times. It was a good goal and a good day. It was very special and all the sweeter for coming late on with just a few minutes left.”
Like any injured player, Huws didn’t enjoy having to make do with the role of spectator in the early months of the current campaign and is particularly looking forward to linking up with Waghorn and Joe Garner, another player snatched from Rangers and with five goals to his credit so far.
He added: "I’m thankful for the fact that they have come in and started so well. They are both great players and we have given ourselves a chance to push on again.
"I’ve got to get in the team now because there’s competition for places and everyone pushing each other to be in the side. The camp’s really positive, there’s a good vibe about the place and we’re looking forward to each game.
"When you are injured it’s not much fun because all you want is to be out there involved and playing again. But the boys have started off the season really well and new lads like Waggy and Joe have come in and done unbelievably well, so credit to them and here’s hoping they can carry on in the same way.”
The mood at Portman Road is more upbeat now than when Huws was brought in on loan last season, his task to help lift the team out of a poor run of form that saw them confronted with the very real threat of relegation before vital back-to-back wins over Burton and eventual champions Newcastle saw them pull clear of the danger zone.
Huws said: "Seasons can differ a lot and it depends on certain things. We’ve brought in some really good players and that always helps. People can point a finger at the gaffer when we lose but it’s not always his fault.
"Most of the time it’s the players not performing, but we’re getting some good results this season and when you look at the last two the performances were better than the results and we should have been picking up more than two points. But the performances are there and that’s the main thing,”
Meanwhile, Huws looked back on Loovens’s late tackle on McGoldrick and added: "It was a shocking challenge. I didn’t really see it properly when I was sitting on the bench because I had TC [Terry Connor] jumping in front of me. But when I saw it back on television I thought it should have been a straight red.
"Every day of the week, that’s a red card. We just have to hope now that Didzy heals well and is back with us as soon as possible to get going again because he was on fire before what happened on Wednesday.
"They are reviewing dives with a view to punishing players so I don’t know why they can’t review a bad tackle like that in the same way. They will only need to look at it once to know it should have been a red card.”