Midfielder Luke Hyam has impressed manager Paul Jewell not only enough to win a new contract but also to be cited as an example to other players. In February, former Northgate High School pupil and academy scholar Hyam was controversially offered only a new one-year deal but has since shown his manager he is well worth a longer term contract.

Jewell said: “He’s been terrific. I’ve got to take my hat off to Luke Hyam. He’s an example to all players when they think all the world’s against them.

“He wasn’t even in our reserves side last season on a regular basis and I think he’s shown a brilliant attitude.

“I think he’s improved as a player, I think his confidence is coming through. He’s going to have peaks and troughs, but he will definitely be one that we will want to give a new deal, no doubt about that, that’ll be sooner rather than later. I haven’t spoken to him about it, but it’s one that I’ve spoken to the owner about.

“He’s done well, really well, and he’s got a lot of an improvement in him. He’s an example to all the young lads who think the door’s closed on them - it’s never shut.”

The Blues boss says he’s had spells as an outcast at clubs during his playing days and that it’s important to keep working hard and not feeling sorry for yourself: “As a player [at Bradford] I was training on my own in different training kit from everybody else at one stage, and 18 months or two years later, I was the manager.

“So, you’ve got to keep fighting for yourself. Luke’s done that and he’s an example to all the young players — or even the older players or more experienced players as we call them now as we haven’t got any older players — that it’s never too late.

"While you’re here and you’re training every day, you’ve always got a chance to impress me.”

Photo: Action Images

billlm added 06:29 - Aug 24 get it done
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trueblue1970 added 07:03 - Aug 24 3yr deal, no more 1yr deals for Hyam he deserves better
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irishtim added 07:09 - Aug 24 Yes 3yr deal pronto.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:33 - Aug 24 billlm, I couldn't agree more! "Get it done." While I'm pleased with the signing of your man from Senegal, I hope this doesn't limit Hyam too much. But no doubt PJ has got his positions/cover needed worked out. This is beginning to feel more like the real ITFC again.
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bobble added 07:37 - Aug 24 sounds a bit condescending to me....
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Bleedingblue added 08:03 - Aug 24 Excellent news! Still don't understand why he wasn't given a longer contract in the first place. Surely doing things the way we have will cost the club more in agent and signing on fees?
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Stato added 08:05 - Aug 24 hyam is a cracking player and does all the simple stuff really well. he is heading for the premiership and hopefully he might take us with him.
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northdevonblue added 08:16 - Aug 24 Brilliant news, lets nuture our young talent rather than just showing them the door, 3/4 year deal please.
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bluemonday added 08:21 - Aug 24 Excellent new - now lets purchase some shorts which fit !!!!!!!!!!
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Kesgraveblue57 added 08:43 - Aug 24 Jewell's a joke it takes him nearly two years to see Hyam got talent, makes you wonder what we lost in the past
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ArnieMsBigToe added 08:58 - Aug 24 Bluemonday: I have to agree with you. I reckon he needs his mum to take them in a bit!! On a different note: It has already been said many times, PJ is beginning to get the squad back that RK destroyed. Blackpool, this weekend, will be a real test though. I think that we may well lose that match. Ian Holloway has done a brilliant job there. I really hope that I'm eating humble pie on Saturday at 5 pm.

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tontony added 09:03 - Aug 24 Kesgraveblue57... a player needs to do more than just show that he has talent. I would hope that all of the youngsters at Town have "talent", it's the ones that put in 100% effort if they are in the team or not that progress on to be first team material. IMO Jewell has managed Hyam really well. He obviously saw that the boy had talent to offer him an additional year on his contract! This has given Hyam the motivation to prove he could progress to the first team and more importantly stay the...... and he's well on the way! Top marks PJ & LH!! Lets not poo poo Jewell for good management of our youngsters, we've been calling for this for years!

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ThatMuhrenCross added 09:21 - Aug 24 “As a player [at Bradford] I was training on my own in different training kit from everybody else at one stage, and 18 months or two years later, I was the manager." So in February 2014, Luke Hyam will be the Ipswich manager?!?!??? :P
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ldnj added 09:51 - Aug 24 ThatMuhrenCross Only if he was training on his own in different kit !
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TractorMan added 10:08 - Aug 24 Last year, offering a 1 year deal was probably right given how little he had been involved. It also says to the player - go and prove to me you deserve a longer contract. Too many young players are given big, long contracts and then happily sit in the reserves. Hyam has shown exactly what was expected of him and is rewarded. Nothing wrong with that at all and people who have a go at Jewell on this issue are wrong.

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Michael11 added 10:13 - Aug 24 Reading this has made me happier than the N'Daw deal, definitely deserves the new deal make it a 3-4 year one too PJ.
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Daleyitfc added 10:13 - Aug 24 Hyam has not changed : it is simply that Jewell was completely against him (for whatever reason) and has been forced to back down because of consistently good performances. Shame he didn't spot the same talent in Peters and O'Connor because they are now lost to the game.
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:26 - Aug 24 SOLID , Hyam is a really good prospect, he has put everything into his game when given opportunity and not thrown toys out of pram when hasnt had a game . Adecent contract will boost his moral GET THE QUILL OUT .
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Joetown95 added 10:31 - Aug 24 Get in well done luke
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gypo added 11:07 - Aug 24 well done luke hope callum bennets reading this were are you now !!. Thats why he offered these young players year deals to see what a reaction he gets and if they are worth a longer one
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itfc94 added 11:33 - Aug 24 I hate moaners on this site, if you have nothing positive to say then take it elsewhere and cry in your milk in the evenings. Jewell for me this season/pre-season has said all the right things and as of today I'm feeling more confident than I did 6 months ago. With N'Daw signing its adding bulk and a enormous chest to our midfield which will only benefit us. Keep it up Jewell. Give the players such as Martin, Hyam new deals and lets crack on with the season playing some good football along the way

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itfc94 added 11:33 - Aug 24 I hate moaners on this site, if you have nothing positive to say then take it elsewhere and cry in your milk in the evenings. Jewell for me this season/pre-season has said all the right things and as of today I'm feeling more confident than I did 6 months ago. With N'Daw signing its adding bulk and a enormous chest to our midfield which will only benefit us. Keep it up Jewell. Give the players such as Martin, Hyam new deals and lets crack on with the season playing some good football along the way

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stiffy501 added 11:34 - Aug 24 Well Mr Jewell, glad to see you have finally spotted the potential in this lad !!! only a year or so behind the rest of us !!! give him 3 years min !!!!!
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Lightningboy added 12:00 - Aug 24 Get it sorted..and give him a decent deal,not another 12 months nonsense. Show a little more faith in our kids Jewell..they'll probably be here long after you.
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Talbs77 added 12:10 - Aug 24 Disapointed the lad didnt get 3 years last year however lets not slate pj now, lets just get it sorted and get him signed. Good to hear positive vibes also on the Martin deal, looks like the pennies dropped with the club that you have to get these guys on 3-4 years if you want a return on your investments.
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