Charlton v Ipswich: Luke Hyam looks set for a spell on the bench as Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy aims to find the right balance in his midfield.

Ipswich-born Hyam had started 37 matches in a row under McCarthy’s management, with the Blues boss always quick to highlight the amount of ground the tenacious 22-year-old covers in matches.

McCarthy is acutely aware that his workmanlike midfield has contributed just three goals this season. Indeed, the quintet of Paul Anderson, Cole Skuse, Jay Tabb, Hyam and Carlos Edwards have scored just 121 goals between them in 1,502 combined career appearances.

In an attempt to redress the balance between defence and attack, Hyam was subbed at half-time in the 3-2 win at Blackpool and dropped to the bench for last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat to Leicester City.

And it looks like Manchester United loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe will be given another chance in the middle at Charlton today, with pacey teenage right-winger Jordan Graham having been brought in on loan from Aston Villa and left-winger Stephen Hunt pushing for his first start.

“Goals from the middle of the park is something we’ve got to try and improve on,” said McCarthy. “I thought Tunners did well playing in there last week – that’s his position.

“I don’t think it had any detrimental affect. I looked at the stats and Tunners ran more than anybody in the game and actually had the best passing percentage too. “I’m just looking for goals from midfield. Somebody is going to have to provide them.”

On academy product Hyam, the Blues boss added: “I think other people had labelled him as a defensive midfielder in the past. We asked him to get a bit further forward and be more offensive – and he has. I’m just trying something different at the moment.”

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