PAUL Jewell believes Massimo Luongo will bring a “touch of class” to the Ipswich midfield.

The Tottenham 19-year-old made his bow for Town in Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Cambridge United and was a stand-out performer – just 24 hours after his first training session with his new team mates.

Jewell said: “He is a player I was aware of last year. I am good friends with Tim Sherwood, I spoke to him and Harry Redknapp. I have seen him play a few times and he has always impressed me.

“Considering the first time he trained with us was on Tuesday, he showed great confidence. It was only a pre-season friendly but you could see he has a touch of class.”

Jewell, like the watching Town fans at the R Costings Abbey Stadium, was impressed with Luongo, who played a holding role as part of an experimental diamond midfield.

The manager said: “That system does suit him. We have got lots of options and lots of different types of systems we can play. We have to be flexible.”

Luongo’s introduction gives Jewell a selection headache in the centre of the park ahead of the season opener at home to Blackburn.

The Town boss started with Andy Drury and Ryan Stevenson on either side of the diamond while there is also Luke Hyam and, to some degree, Lee Martin, Josh Carson and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in contention.

Then there is Jimmy Bullard, the most notable absentee from Wednesday with Jewell choosing to pitch the midfielder against Braintree in a largely youthful Town side 24 hours previous. Jewell explained: I wanted to give most people 90 minutes and I felt that was the best way to do it.

“People can read into it too much. Jimmy is a part of our squad like everyone.”

* Read Dave Gooderham’s thoughts on Luongo and what it might mean for one particular Town midfielder at www.greenun24.co.uk/blogs