Blues boss Mick McCarthy says it’s great to have midfielder Luke Hyam fit again and hopes the 23-year-old is over his injury problems having missed the final four months of 2014/15 with damaged knee ligaments.

“I just spoke to him and I just hope for him he’s OK,” McCarthy said as the squad returned to Playford Road for the start of pre-season training on Tuesday.

“He is, he’s training but it’s when you go back into that full tilt training and you start tackling and kicking the ball and blocking things when you’ve had a knee ligament problem, it’s always a worry.

“And, of course, he’s not got back to all that yet. He’s doing all his fitness work, he looks in amazing shape as he always does.

“It’ll be great for us all to have him back, he’s a great competitor. He’s one of the fittest lads we’ve got, he does it all the time, he’s terrific.”

He added: “Those ligament injuries, you think you’re OK and a ball hits you on the toe and opens your knee up again and suddenly you’re back to square one and he’s had that a couple of times.

“Hopefully, with the rest over the summer - the rest from trying to kick balls and tackling, he has still been working - will mean he’s OK.”

Hyam has made exactly 100 starts for the Blues plus 11 sub appearances, scoring three times, since making his debut at Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 2010/11 campaign.

The former Northgate High School pupil is contracted for another year with that deal including an option for another season.

Hyam and the rest of the first team squad have flown to Ireland this morning for their week-long training camp at the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare.

The Blues open their pre-season friendly programme with a game against Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Saturday (KO 3pm). Admission will be €10 for adults and €5 students, OAPs and children. The club bar opens at 1pm.

Photo: Action Images

billywizz added 10:48 - Jul 6 Lets hope he keeps his head down and works hard and stay away from birds and hippy crack.
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blueherts added 10:49 - Jul 6 Great - Still young and despite some of the boo boys I like Luke - Started well last season and def after xmas at times we missed him in there He will give it 100% and you always need players like Luke in the squad Hope the injury has no flare up and he could compliment some of the new 'Flair' we have in the team
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MickMillsTash added 10:55 - Jul 6 Was there someone on Court No 1, Wimbledon on Saturday in an old Pioneer Town top? I'm sure I was not dreaming Bravo!
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Michael11 added 10:57 - Jul 6 I'd actually forgotten about Hyam coming back. I think we missed having a ball winner in midfield towards the back end of the season and he would've been ideal. He isn't a great passer or gets goals but still does a job. We seem to have decent options in the middle now with Skuse, Hyam, Bishop, Bru. Hopefully we can add an attacking midfielder who can get goals now.
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dirtyboy added 10:58 - Jul 6 Had a lot of stick around the time of the Southampton game, probably some justified, but he'd just come back from injury then, so not ideal timing wise. I'm looking forward to having him back personally. There are always games where you need someone like him to go do the dirty stuff others aren't so keen to do. Fingers crossed for him!
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PortmanTerrorist added 11:06 - Jul 6 Until Skuceeee found form right at the death last season, it was clear how toothless our midfield is without Luke. I have a feeling the break will have allowed to him to stop, pause, assess what he has achieved, and see what is required to kick on. Firing on all cylinders, he is critical for any promotion push. Welcome back Luke, you have been missed. Stay healthy, and shows us what you capable of !

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Carberry added 11:09 - Jul 6 Good to hear the knee is recovered - now for the hair!
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rickw added 11:10 - Jul 6 He was poor before he got injured, but he's a great option to have in the squad - he provides a different skill-set to our other midfielders, and there are games where we need some aggression and a ball winner in the middle and he's the only one who'll do this, if we're looking for creativity or to dominate possession then he's not our man. Anyway I'm glad he's back and competing with our other midfielders!

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ThatMuhrenCross added 11:24 - Jul 6 This is the season for Luke to kick on now. He's proven himself as a solid and reliable Championship professional, but he's now at the age where he needs to show people he's capable of moving up to the Premier League. There were signs last season that he was adding an attacking dimension to his game, which was pleasing to see. I'd now like to see him build on that and start looking to become an 8-10 goal a season man - maybe more in future. With his work rate, and evident natural ability, there's no reason why Luke cannot be our main man in that midfield for years to come. Lets now see it.

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itfcserbia added 11:30 - Jul 6 Gio Dos Santos transfer listed btw... Long time no mention :)
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Gingerblues added 11:47 - Jul 6 Much as I'd like to see him succeed I think he is a very average champ player, not someone to get you promoted. Him and skuse in midfield was disastrous. Squad player maybe...
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Vizslaraner added 11:57 - Jul 6 Micky Mills - No you weren't mistaken there was indeed a Pioneer Shirt loud and Proud on Court 1, great to see! Unfortunately, they went to Centre Court and there was some pikey budgie with a Union Jack which made me bring up my tea! Looked like he got off a park bench. Then some silly bint with one on too! Our shirts look class whereas the yellow filth stand out like a pile of vomit

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iaintaylorx added 12:08 - Jul 6 think our centre midfield is as strong as i've known! bru, bishop, skusey, hyam, maitland miles can play there, with benyu coming through! pretty happy with that!
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bluehook added 12:12 - Jul 6 Good news. Now, if we could just get him to stop fiddling with his hair every five minutes in training and on the pitch, It may improve his concentration levels.
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Pilgrimblue added 12:22 - Jul 6 Missed him for sure and hope after long rest he's had chance to focus on his game. He did start to get more forward so hope he's got some goals coming and he is more confident on the ball
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brian_a_mul added 12:29 - Jul 6 An important squad member, gives us bite in midfield when required. Agree that our midfield is as strong as Iv seen it in many years. Cant wait for season to start!
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runningout added 12:46 - Jul 6 Hope Luke gets his haircut too....
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Jimmy86 added 12:52 - Jul 6 I'd played as a holding midfielder then that's fair enough, but when he is being turned into something he's not, a more attack minded, box to box midfielder, this is where his clear limitations are exposed. He adds bite and tenacity on the ball and is good at breaking up play, but his passing is poor and he's not capable of grabbing a game by the scruff of the neck and changing it. He did start last season well, then reverted to the sideways/backward passing, which slows down the play and costs us. Big season ahead

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TimmyH added 13:08 - Jul 6 Don't hold your breath Mick - he'll probably be injured next week, a career so far by and large effected by injury problems. As mentioned ok as a squad player but needs to 'up' his game (generally played better under Jewell).
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Chicago_Blue added 13:08 - Jul 6 Typically, pictured playing with his hair. Someone shave it all off please! ;-)
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Surco72 added 13:26 - Jul 6 Either him or Skuse not both as we played better when Bishop was in the team as results would suggest
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BackTheBlues added 13:45 - Jul 6 Hyam is a massive part of Ipswich Town going forward... A - He is a local lad, goes to the away games with the crowd when he's injured, is a proper fan and never gives less than 100% B - is only 23 - still learning still developing, and if anyone is going to get the best out of him it will be Mick! C - he is willing to try things others aren't, might not always come off, but for a hard working tackling midfielder, he does make a lot of ground forward running.

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bohslegend added 15:13 - Jul 6 I like Hyam. has the makings of a good premier league player in him. Needs to shoot more but so do the rest of our midfield :-) Great to have him back. Fingers crossed for a full recovery from a nasty injury.
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muccletonjoe added 15:14 - Jul 6 Have always liked hyam, good to see him back again
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rexron added 15:19 - Jul 6 Pretty sure we had better results with him than without him. Only 23 and still developing. He and Smith proved Jewell wrong id say. Hyam will start scoring a lot of goals soon, and I believe he will be captain a couple of seasons in the future.
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