BILLY Clark has backed his best mate Luke Hyam to win Paul Jewell over and star in the Championship again.

Hyam shot from nowhere this time last season impressing all in Town’s pre-season friendlies and starting 11 of the Blues’ first 14 league and cup matches.

But as quickly as he burst onto the scene, ironically at the expense of fellow young midfielder Clark, Ipswich-born Hyam virtually disappeared without trace under Roy Keane and then Jewell – playing just two halves of first team football in seven-and-a-half months.

With Jewell after at least one new central midfielder, and talks ongoing with Lee Bowyer, Hyam faces an uphill battle to prove his worth.

But Clark, who was not offered a new contract by Ipswich at the end of last season, believes his mate can still impress the Town boss in the forthcoming friendly matches.

He said: “Luke did really well. He impressed in pre-season and the system Ipswich played really suited him as a defensive midfielder.

“He played well in the first team at the start of last season and Ipswich won some games. He has shown he can easily play at that level.”

n Should Luke Hyam be given a first team chance or is Paul Jewell right to look elsewhere? Let us know your thoughts at sport@eadt.co.uk