Boss Mick McCarthy says he and assistant Terry Connor have been working on improving the attacking side of midfielder Luke Hyam's game in training. And the duo’s efforts at Playford Road paid off on Saturday with 21-year-old involved in both striker David McGoldrick’s goals during the 3-0 home victory over Leeds.

Hyam powered a header against the crossbar for the first, the on-loan Forest man following up to nod home, then after the break he provided the pass for the frontman’s second of the afternoon.

Speaking after Saturday's game, McCarthy said: “We’ve been at him, TC really gets at him, and it’s funny as we did a bit of work with him after training on Friday, playing around, somebody getting in the box and doing it. Terry’s excellent at that, banging on at them.

“We’ve been the lowest scorers and we’ve been at them since we came here to try and be positive. It’s easy to be positive when you’re winning games, of course, but get in the box, shoot, do more positive things, and he’s certainly bought into it.”

Like his predecessor Paul Jewell, McCarthy believes Hyam should be viewed as more than just a holding midfielder: “He’s got far more than that. He’s got the energy to get up and down the pitch. He has remarkable energy levels. I’m delighted, he’s a good player.”

The Blues boss was also pleased for McGoldrick, who scored his third and fourth goals for Town — his 20th and 21st goals overall this season — despite not being at his best: “I was delighted with him because early on in the game I thought that their front three were causing us far more problems, our back four wasn’t as solid as they have been.

“I didn’t think Dids was as good as he’s been, so it’s nice when you play like that, especially as a frontman, and you get a couple of goals. It’s great if you follow up and you finish, and the second was a great finish.”

McCarthy also had praise for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who netted the third goal having come off the bench: “He’s been doing really well, he’s contributed because he made a super block against Leicester that kept the points for us, he created the chance for Carlos against Bolton two weeks ago and he’s come on today and done well.

“I just thought there were some wide open spaces for him to use and he did it. I’m pleased with him. He’s doing really well.”

The Town manager was also happy with Scott Loach on his return to the side with the former Watford keeper making some important saves, particularly prior to the game-changing sending off of Leeds defender Tom Lees: “It’s just as well he did because we would have lost otherwise.

“I just said to him, ‘Have a bit more belief in yourself’. He’s such a lovely young man. That’s all right, it’s nice being a lovely young fella off the pitch, but you can be an arrogant so and so on it, and I think as a goalkeeper you need a bit of that.

“They say they’re all bonkers, but whether they’re bonkers or not there’s just something that stands you out as the number one.

“His saves did that for him today but I think he can have more of a positive character about him in his demeanour — ‘I am number one now, there’s nobody going to nick that, there’s no Hendo coming back here’. Make himself number one and let’s hope he does that.

“He is [the number one at the moment], there’s nothing going to change that, only the way he plays and he looked like a number one today with the saves he made, which is good.”

Photo: Action Images

wkj added 08:07 - Apr 1 Hyam was a real gem Saturday- I do feel he should have taken a couple of shots at times otherwise he has improved a grea deal! Now we need to figure out how to sort out Drury who looks overwhelmed of late
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dalianwasexciting added 09:19 - Apr 1 I have to agree with the above, as for Drury, I simply do not think he is good enough at this level to be a first choice midfielder. But I am sure Mick has ideas about the future which it seems young Luke could well be a big part of.
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muccletonjoe added 09:52 - Apr 1 Still say hyam is player of the season
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dannym09 added 10:21 - Apr 1 i was at the game and apart from the assists, hyams distribution and tackling were quite poor, but so was drurys. tabb looks decent but think ndaw should start against millwall, his presence against trotter could be key. 3 points today and i think we will be almost there. Mick and Terry take a bow son.
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neillrumsey added 10:53 - Apr 1 N'Daw had a run of six awful appearances prior to his arrest. Please no recall for him. If somebody is sacrificed in the middle then Tabb must move into centre amd Martin returns to left. JET or Chopra for Murphy is a must.
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Dissboyitfc added 11:13 - Apr 1 Totally Agree with Dannym09, 3 goals 3 points and a clean sheet, superb result, which is no more than we could have asked for. The fact is we could have lost quite heavily, can't believe the number of people who txt radio Suffolk after the game suggesting we played great, a great result but not a great performance. Scott loach was very busy even when they went down to 10. Let's hope we get another 3 points today, Coyb

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billlm added 11:41 - Apr 1 honest hyam good player no diving cheating refreshing
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Maverick_Mitch added 12:49 - Apr 1 Players starting to believe in themselves - at last. Agree good to see Luke coming forward. It wasn't as easy as the score suggests and we showed character in weathering the early storm. Fair play to Leeds supporters they were vocal 'till the end - just a shame they've got such a miserable manager!
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HarryfromBath added 13:06 - Apr 1 Looking at Mick's comments about Loachy at the end of Phil's piece. That is really good man-management. He wants him to have the goalkeeping slot, but he is also telling him what he needs to do to keep the jersey permanently. This is terrific positive criticism. This is Mick's general approach, and he is doing the same thing with everyone in the squad.
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jas0999 added 13:29 - Apr 1 What I really like about MM is he really gives the younger players and indeed all players a chance. Unlike PJ, it's not one mistake and your out. This of course happened to Hyam under PJ last year. He had one bad game and was dumped. Also good comments re Loach. I know a number of posters were slated on here after the Leeds game for commenting on Loach's failure to hold the ball and gather crosses. I agree. Loach needs to work on this. MM pretty much agrees. Good keepers are arrogant and make sure they come out and collect the ball. All too often Loach sits back. This is not a slate in any way - as Loach is a decent shot-stopper and pulled off several good stops on Saturday. But for me, we need more in our No. 1 keeper. The good news for Loach is he has 7 games to make the role his for next season.

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