Town boss Mick McCarthy says recalled loanee Luke Hyam and returning injury absentees Ryan Fraser and Luke Varney will be determined to break into the starting line-up during the Christmas and New Year fixtures. Hyam, 24, was brought back from his spell at Rotherham early yesterday having previously been out of action for more than 10 months with a knee injury.

“They’re all itching to start, the ones that have been injured even more so,” McCarthy said.” Luke Hyam went to Rotherham and had his games. I think he had 15 minutes, then half an hour, 75 minutes and he played 90 on Saturday and they were delighted with him.

“But I want him around here. We’ve got three big games coming up in a week and he adds to the squad.”

The Town boss says he’s seen little of Hyam’s time with the Millers but knows what he’ll get from him now he’s back.

“I didn’t [see Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Hull City] as I had a game myself, but I did see his own goal [against Blackburn] on television. That was the only thing I’ve seen of him, which is sad really, considering.

“But I don’t need to see him, all I need is to know that he’s fit. I know all about his ability, all he can do, what he’s really good at, what he’s not so good at. That is no problem to me at all.

“What I wanted to see was whether he could compete for 90 minutes and get back and is injury free, and he is, so I’m delighted.”

McCarthy says Hyam was recalled with the intention of playing games during a holiday period in which the Blues face a tough home game against QPR on Boxing Day, then similarly difficult visits to Brighton on December 29th and then Burnley on January 2nd.

“If I’d no thoughts of him being involved I wouldn’t have brought him back and he’ll be involved in the squad on Saturday,” the Town manager said.

“He played Saturday for Rotherham but it may well be he’s on the bench for us because we’ve been going well ourselves.

“But we’ve got three big games coming up over the holiday period so I’ll probably need all the help I can get.”

He says Ipswich-born Hyam offers something different to some of his other midfield players and not just his roots as a fan of the club who progressed through to the senior side from the academy.

“He’s come through the club, he’s got the club at heart, definitely, but then I think the other players have as well,” McCarthy said. “But maybe you have a little bit of a percentage more because you come through the club and the academy and he has the club at heart.

“He’s just such an all-round combative player that puts his foot in. I’m looking at Brighton away and Burnley away and I’m thinking we might need all his getting around the pitch, winning tackles, the defensive qualities that he has.

“He’s a different player, he doesn’t have Kevin Bru’s ability on the ball or his passing range but Bru wouldn’t have Luke’s all-round tenacity, defending, tackling, the way he goes about the game and drives people on.

“If we could put them both together we’d have a top Premier League player, wouldn’t we! He’s got other qualities and he’s welcome back.”

When Hyam was offered the chance to go out on loan, McCarthy said the former Northgate High School pupil wasn’t initially keen, but his manager says that’s just how players can be.

“Footballers are the most insecure people in the world,” he added. “We - I was a footballer - some of us more than others are insecure and worry about the motives behind it.

“‘What am I going on loan for? Does he not fancy me any more? Aren’t I going to play in the team? Is he trying to sell me? Trying to get shot of me?’.

“Actually, I wanted him to get some games so he could come back and compete for my team and as it’s worked out that’s what’s happening.

“I had to explain myself in triplicate on that one, to be honest. But I get that, I understand that.”

Photo: Action Images

hogster1970 added 06:18 - Dec 23 i for one is pleased that luke is back and fighting fit, my daughter will be jumping up and down with excitement also, as he is her fav. but like alot on here he does add steel to the midfield and we all agree that the combo of scuse douglas and AMN didnt have that against boro or derby. i watched him alot last year and he was always in the faces of the opposing team getting the boot in, and winning the tackle ect, oh and a few yellows but thats not a bad thing. scuse and douglas doesnt seem to do that no were near as much as they should. also last year hyam did get a few assists and some nice balls through ( i watched the seasons highlights recently) but did tail of a bit then ofcourse he got injured at chalton and that was it then he did have a awfull game against southampton but over all im pleased he is back, he will be usefull to break up play later on in games from the bench esp if we are ahead and more so if we are behind in games. so good luke and let the blue force be with you

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iaintaylorx added 07:03 - Dec 23 pleased also that the lad is back in the squad. if he has a season free of injury and a good amount of playing time, I think he'll be a great player for us. if i'm honest, i'd prefer him playing a more defensive game as i think during keane's and jewell's reign, he seemed more relaxed there with the typical good hard tackles. good management from MM to get him ready for the Christmas schedule.

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alexsmith111 added 07:38 - Dec 23 Im delighted too, when fit, hes a great player, for me he should be ahead of douglas and skuse. Despite personally think skuse if better that douglas, skuse and hyam cannot play together as it will always be going backwards
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WeWereZombies added 07:40 - Dec 23 Competition for places, much needed in the three tough games ahead.
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Smithy added 07:44 - Dec 23 Not nice seeing him in yellow
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Jimmy86 added 07:56 - Dec 23 That own goal really was a bullet header!! If he did that up the right end for us he would be lethal!! Like Mick I realise Hyam adds bite and tenacity in the middle of the park, something we really missed against those cheats on Saturday. But as Mick pointed out and I'm glad he did, Hyam is somewhat limited with the ball at his feet. Now if you team up Hyam with a more creative player next to him then that's ideal, he can also play in a 3

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:09 - Dec 23 good to see he is back.COYB
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OsborneOneNil added 09:37 - Dec 23 Average & steady.
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joepublic added 09:46 - Dec 23 Skuse, Douglas, Coke and Hyam in a holding midfield four. Come on Mick, you know you want to;)
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jas0999 added 09:48 - Dec 23 Great to see him back, but we know from experience that a Skuse/Hyam partnership doesn't work. We also know that Skuse/Douglas is perhaps the least threatening central partnership in the league. Therefore, under no circumstances should the three of them start together! Hyam will add bite to the midfield and personally I haven't been impressed with Douglas, Hyam is the better player. So perhaps he could be on the bench to cover Skuse, with an all important new attack minded signing in the middle with Skuse.

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Currie10 added 09:49 - Dec 23 Average and steady he may well be in the middle, but a firm CM base will allow wingers to be more attacking and fly forward a lot more. Adds a bit of pressure to Douglas.
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muccletonjoe added 09:58 - Dec 23 So am I. For once mick we both agree
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ITFC_Cairo added 12:24 - Dec 23 Great to have him back in the squad. Yellow definitely doesn't suit him.
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WorcesterBlue added 13:21 - Dec 23 So his passing and possibly his positioning isn't as good as Skuse's. However, he covers the ground better, is quicker, can (and will) tackle and is better in the air. Play him with a more creative player (Bru or Bishop) ahead of him and we may start to look a bit more effective in midfield. Or in a three with both. Nothing against Skuse personally but he is slow, doesn't tackle much and whether or not his passing is better than Hyam's, his passes are often safety first and negative and take too long to come. In that regard Douglas is better.

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terryf added 13:42 - Dec 23 Good to see Luke back from his injuries, but am I seeing a different game to some. I just don't understand all the criticism of Cole Skuse , as anyone who has played football will tell you he is very good in the defensive midfield role. We'd be going backwards if MM played Luke alongside Cole and at best he should be no more than a replacement. What we need is a midfield General. Someone who can see the forward pass. Often the front players struggle for service and often have to create chances for themselves. I felt sorry for Freddie at times on saturday as he was often retriving the ball in our half rather than receiving it in the opposition's.

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Keaneish added 14:29 - Dec 23 One of the missing pieces in this starting 11 for me. Delighted he's been called back and hopefully not for a bit part either. Much better at doing the dirty work than Skuse and can play alongside him as a midfield three but not as a two.
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phillo added 14:36 - Dec 23 Agree with terryf ....... all those who are negative to Skuse you wait till he misses a game , then you'll see how much he brings to the side. All sides need the non-glamorous role he plays for us & rarely do the players playing the role get credit for it. Hes a lynchpin in tho current side & I wish more people saw what he does & credits him for it. First name on the team sheet in my opinion.

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Keaneish added 15:33 - Dec 23 He's really not in my opinion Phillo. I watch him off the ball as well as on it and he's got it very comfy in there. He plays very, very deep but for a player in that position he should be pulling the strings and sadly, although he has the ability, he doesn't. In my opinion he's been flattering to deceive for a while now. Can you tell me what you think he does? A lynch pin for me needs to turn defence into attack. Does he do this? Not really as we play too many long balls and i don;t see the level of balls into the front man's feet or defence splitting passes form him that position dictates. Is he dominant in the tackle? Not really. Hyam is better. Does he hassle and harry and cause unforced errors? Occasionally. Is her energetic and does he dictate the tempo? Not really. Does he demand the ball constantly? Not really. Has he ever bossed a game for 90 mins? No.... He's not the 'general' people think he is. We need better if we're ever going to penetrate top 6 and maybe that's just a different combination rather than a purchase but for me.

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hampstead_blue added 16:36 - Dec 23 Would be nice if he had a hair cut. His floppy thing looks just daft.
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fifeblue added 16:48 - Dec 23 The best player at the club for past 5 years.
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blueboy1981 added 16:59 - Dec 23 ....... oh well - it seems the saviour returns .... !!!!..... some people ... ?? Let's just hope he stops 'preening' that hair, and starts playing in a forward thinking trajectory.
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Fatcatevans added 19:10 - Dec 23 At best he's average. He can't create, sure he'lol get a foot in and run around a lot, play with his hair and get cheered for being a local lad etc but we are deluded if we think he's the answer to our lack of midfield ability.
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TimmyH added 20:56 - Dec 23 There will be a nice cosy spot on the bench for you Luke (probably the one Coke will vacate) - but don't expect to start any time in the near future as monsieur Douglas and Skuse will be in the middle most of the season (bar injuries). Perhaps Mick will have you in that right midfield position soon?...a particular area of his to play someone out of position.
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Keaneish added 22:08 - Dec 23 Probably because he's not a creative midfielder fatcatevans? That's Bru or Bishop surely? I'll take running around a lot and getting a foot in at the moment. Anything for a bit of dynamism through the middle.
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Fatcatevans added 00:03 - Dec 24 Dynamism from Hyam? I can't recall seeing much of that in his past appearances . I don't for one moment question his attitude or effort but I think you you are exaggerating his ability.
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