CONNOR Wickham goes into tomorrow’s Championship game against Hull City at Portman Road (kick-off 3pm) a happy lad and fully committed to Ipswich Town.

A wonder solo goal against Sheffield United a fortnight ago and a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 6-0 thumping of Doncaster Rovers has made the 17-year-old the talk of football again.

He is contracted to Ipswich until June 2013, and when he becomes 18 on March 31 he will be eligible to negotiate a longer contract without the previous length restrictions.

Wickham will be looking to add to his recent goal tally of five goals in five league games after going the first half of the campaign without finding the net.

Former Town striker and caretaker manager Paul Goddard is Wickham’s agent, and he revealed today that the hot property has a new lease of life.

“He’s got his smile back,” said Goddard.

“Connor’s a much happier young man and he’s enjoying himself again.

“He’s in the first team and scoring goals and he’s really happy.”

Along with Connor’s father Stefan, Goddard will have a big say in the boy’s future with Premier League scouts taking a close interest in every game the lad plays.

“Connor’s committed to Ipswich and wants to help them do well next season,” added Goddard.

“Ipswich is his club.

“He appreciates that he has all the assets and he wants to capitalise on them.

“He ticks all the boxes, but knows he has got to develop further and he has every chance of doing that with Ipswich now.

“He is grateful to Roy Keane for giving him his opportunity and he has always given his all for the club.

“But it would be fair to say there were frustrations.”

Wickham’s mentors are keen for him to be as low key as possible at the moment and Goddard added:

“It’s best for Connor to be developing at first team level than perhaps be swallowed up within a Premier League club next season.

“But we know that things can change in football and its common knowledge that a lot of clubs are tracking him who might have money in the summer to spend.”

It is understood that Wickham has a clause in his contract similar to many players – Andy Drury at Luton was one – that he can move on if he wants if a bid meets a certain figure.

This would be at least �10 million and would not come until the transfer window opens again by which time Wickham could well have signed a new Town contract extending his current deal into 2015.