Blues boss Paul Jewell has praised the professionalism and hunger of midfielder Luke Hyam. The academy product was widely viewed as Town’s man of the match during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn.

Jewell admits that Hyam hasn’t had too many first team chances since he took over as manager but says he has been impressed with his attitude: “He’s a great professional, hungry and he probably just hasn’t had an opportunity under me, being honest.

“But at the moment, himself and Mass, making his [league] debut in a game like that against Dickson Etuhu and Danny Murphy, [are in the team].

“I said to them yesterday, ‘When you look at the teamsheets, what’s exactly the same?’. We’ve got the same amount of players as them.

“We can’t look at names or what people have done in the past. We respect that, but when you get out on that pitch, you’ve got to go and play for the shirt and that’s what all the lads are doing.”

The Blues boss was pleased with Hyam’s contribution to Town’s equaliser: “It was a good ball in for the goal and I think he’s just got to have a little bit more confidence in himself, which will develop as he plays more games. We’ve got competition in there and we want to provide competition right throughout the team.”

Last season Jewell said there was more to the 20-year-old’s game than just sitting in front of the defence, something that pass appeared to illustrate: “I think you can pigeon hole people at a young age so they become a ‘defensive midfield player’. Midfield players when I was growing up used to have to defend and attack.

“I think these days you have all these fancy systems where someone’s either a holding midfield player or he’s an attacking midfield player. Why can’t he do both?

“He’s not going to score lots of goals but I think he’s got more in his locker than he’s been given credit for. And he’s getting better, and he’s young.”

Blues legend Mick Mills, at the game summarising for Radio Suffolk, was also impressed with the former Northgate High School pupil’s contribution: “Luke Hyam was the best player on the field, he was excellent. In a match where Danny Murphy was in action, Luke gave the sort of display that you would have expected from a player of Danny’s experience and quality.

“His distribution was first class, his energy level was top notch and I felt the young lad was an inspiration to all around him. Ipswich have a top quality young player, judging by what he did in that match.”

Photo: Action Images

bigolconnor added 06:12 - Aug 20 Nice one Luke. Keep it up.
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Sospiri added 06:15 - Aug 20 OK, prove it, and pick him more often.
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Blue_Meanie added 06:31 - Aug 20 “He's a great professional, hungry and he probably just hasn't had an opportunity under me, being honest Says it all really doesn't it.
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nickforeveritfc added 07:04 - Aug 20 Good Man!
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DiamondGezzer added 07:19 - Aug 20 Keep up that kind of performance and you should be first on the team sheet.
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irishtim added 07:26 - Aug 20 Give the lad a new contract also.
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irishtim added 07:26 - Aug 20 Give the lad a new contract also.
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Lukeybluey added 07:34 - Aug 20 He was awesome on Saturday. Give him at least a 3 year deal i'd say.
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WaltownBlueNaze added 07:39 - Aug 20 PJ makes me laugh - it was obvious last season that when PJ had to play Hyam and Drury they looked quality and Town had a decent spell. It should be no surprise to him that Hyam has bags of potential ! Did anyone miss Leadbitter on Sat ?
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ThatMuhrenCross added 07:47 - Aug 20 Class player. With him, Drury, Mass and even Lawrence, we don't need any more players in that position this season. Top draw. And no, didn't miss Leadbitter at all. Saw him playing for Middlesbrough on the highlights and he looked lazy. He was also at fault for the goal they conceded.
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Mark added 07:54 - Aug 20 I was really pleased with Luke's display Saturday. Against Bristol Rovers Luongo outshone Hyam, making the Ipswich man look ordinary, but Saturday it was Hyam who really stood out, and in the higher level match. Keep up the good work!
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Wickets added 07:54 - Aug 20 And he could walk away at the end of the season and we would just get peanuts in compo!!
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Blue041273 added 08:23 - Aug 20 PJ sometimes comes across as a tactical dinosaur. With the best will in the world Luke Hyam will never be picked to play as an attacking midfielder even though PJ says that he can play in that role. It's not about pigeon holing a player; it's about playing people in their best positions. PJ thinks that there is no reason why LH can't fulfil both roles. While it's important for midfielders to be flexible and get forward (and get back) at the appropriate times, the 'box to box' players (like Matt Holland) are few and far between in the current game and there will be no benefit in trying to make LH into one. He is a defensive midfielder and a damn good one at that and PJ should be concentrating his efforts in making him an even better one. But the suspicion remains that his place in the team is the most vulnerable if and when a new player is recruited or PJ decides to change the tactical game plan again.

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miltonsnephew added 08:29 - Aug 20 What you have to admit though is pj is holding his hands up about things he done wrong last season, ie the too many older players, making a few wrong signings, not blooding our talented younger players and saying he'll make the changes that he needs to. I really think we should go for judge and also we should look for a maybe 1-2 strikers from the lower divisions. We have to make 2-3 signings this week, just to strengthen the team.

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miltonsnephew added 08:39 - Aug 20 I reckon try push through a loan for josh Mcechran from chelsea.
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Karlosfandangal added 08:45 - Aug 20 Why was Hyam only given a one year contract and then Jewell goes on about these players are the future
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Kesgraveblue57 added 08:56 - Aug 20 It has taken Jewell a long while to realise that Hyam can play why?, most of us knew the lad was good two years ago.
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whymark4lazio0 added 09:25 - Aug 20 PJ quotes from above:- "he probably just hasn't had an opportunity under me" and then a little later "I think he's just got to have a little bit more confidence in himself, which will develop as he plays more games" Doh! At least you can't accuse PJ of spin! I'm a PJ supporter but I'm confused about his apparent Luke Hyam blind spot. Some people have made oblique comments about Hyam having noticed some faults in his game. I wish someone could spell it out for me. As far as I can see, he plays with courage (Loungo looked far more nervous), is always available to receive passes, tackles ferociously and cleanly, passes simply and accurately, has boundless energy and can play incisive through balls. The pass to Scotland on Saturday was brilliant, especially because there was an obvious and easy pass to an overlapping Cresswell, but he must have noticed Scotland's run and made the quick and brave decision to chip it to him. I can only think that the weakness that people speak of is getting caught out of position? If it is, that can be rectified with coaching and games. In my opinion the first names on the teamsheet should be Edwards, Cresswell, Martin and Hyam (and Jason Scotland as super-sub).

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jaydee added 09:48 - Aug 20 Hyam & Drury probably saved PJ from the sack last season,so come on Paul give Hyam a good run in the side, get his confidence up & reap the rewards from the young talent that he is.
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Lombokblue added 09:48 - Aug 20 I hope Jewell doesn't buy or loan in anymore more players ( maybe a centre-half would be ok) Hyam and the other young players need to know its their team. They're going to have bad games but if they are dropped they need to see the opportunity of getting back into the side if they work hard.
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pocketsout added 10:00 - Aug 20 Quality Player. Get him on a long term contract now FFS!
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carsey added 10:33 - Aug 20 All I have to say on the subject is get Hyam signed up on a 2 or 3 year contract, and Martin and Drury. These are the type of players the fans appreciate because they work their socks off even if they are having a bad game. The fact that PJ has apparently only just realised Hyam is a good player worries me - I just hope he leaves the team alone for Tuesday at Watford and doesn't start messing around. With the possible exception of JET who was strangely out of sorts on Saturday the rest of them made a fair start against one of the so called favourites for promotion

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itfcjc added 11:45 - Aug 20 Sign him up for the longterm as his contact is up at the end of the season
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Paddy39 added 11:57 - Aug 20 We don't need our young talent walking away at the end of the season. Get his agent in now and offer him a three year deal with the option of a fourth. Wait much longer and he'll do a Leadbitter/Norris/Macauley and walk for free. Must add good opening performance and I thought the fans gave the team good vocal backing although those Samba drums were doing my bl00dy head in.

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nitroblue1970 added 12:04 - Aug 20 Hope that when Hyam has a bad game he doesnt get dropped and never seen again like last season (and the season before that). He is a good hardworking lad, he shook up Murphy and made him look very ordinary, much to Murphys obvious annoyance! Keep it up Luke and sign a new contact. Loved the Drums by the way...and the sunshine....the Blackburn support was confusing though..they know that Keane will get the sack if he loses three games in a row but they celebrated a goal to go one up...surely they would want to see the team lose? surely? surely?...does anyone actually know why they dont like him? Please enlighten me?

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