McCarthy caution over Hyam return
ITFC v Derby County Left to right, Luke Hyam and Cyrus Christie. - Credit: Gregg Brown
Ipswich Town boss hopes Luke Hyam is over injury problems
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy hopes Luke Hyam has put his injury woe behind him as the midfielder prepares to tackle Shelbourne on Saturday.
The 23-year-old suffered a knee injury in the FA Cup defeat to Southampton in January and has not kicked a ball in anger since.
Hyam returned to pre-season with Town last Tuesday and should feature at Tolka Park, having travelled with the team to Dublin this week.
McCarthy admitted the Blues missed Hyam’s ‘blood and thunder’ performances towards the end of last term, but confessed the midfielder may have to be treated with kid gloves on his return.
“He is training but after a knee ligament injury it’s about getting back into that full tilt training when you start tackling, kicking a ball and blocking,” said McCarthy.
“With ligament injuries, you think you are OK then the ball hits you on the toe and opens the knee up and you are back to square one, he’s had that a couple of times.
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“It’s always a worry and he’s not got back to that (full tilt training) yet.”
McCarthy added: “Luke’s doing all his fitness work at the moment and looks in amazing shape as he always does.
“It would be great for all of us to have him back, he is a great competitor.”
Another player on the long road to recovery is Luke Varney, who snapped his Achilles tendon during the play-off semi-final, first leg draw with Norwich, at Portman Road.
Former loanee Varney is now a free agent and is undergoing his rehabilitation with the Blues with the possibility of a permanent contract on the horizon.
“He’s had a good holiday, but he had to have a mobility scooter and he saw a couple of ex-team-mates who found that hilarious,” revealed McCarthy.
“He looked like Madge from (TV show) Benidorm, but he had a laugh about it as well and seems in good form.
“He is a good, positive character and after we get him fit, hopefully he will be a player for us again.”
