IPSWICH TOWN COMMENT - BY MARK TUXFORD

JUST as Ipswich Town needed an all-important result at MK Dons, Emyr Huws was back in the team and assisting his team to a midweek 1-0 victory last Tuesday evening.

It’s been a frustrating time for Huws over the past two years, ravished by injury setbacks since signing a four-year deal in the summer of 2017, after an initial, but successful, loan spell from Cardiff City under former boss Mick McCarthy’s stewardship.

A troublesome Achilles problem followed by knee surgery has restricted the Welshman to just three first-team starts since signing on the dotted line but his latest comeback feels much more sustainable.

It’s clear to see Town boss Paul Lambert is a big fan of Huws, earning the manager’s trust and gradually being introduced back into the first-team fold, ensuring there is no pressure to rush back and aggravate anymore injury disappointment.

Huws was starting his first league game of the season and didn’t disappoint at Stadium MK.

His pinpoint cross was met by teammate Jon Nolan, who flicked the ball home into the corner of the net in the 12th minute.

It was pleasing to see the former Manchester City youth-team product back doing what he does best. Known for his deadly left-foot, forward thinking approach, eye for a pass and being a box-to-box midfielder, he is a firm fans' favourite and his latest assist will give him huge confidence as he makes big strides in his comeback.

I don’t think I would be far wrong in saying that a fully-fit Huws is arguably the best player in the league, never mind the current Ipswich side.

On his day, he is steady, reliable and tends to shine against the top teams.

Who could forget that volley in the 3-1 victory over Newcastle United a few years ago?

Praise from fans, teammates and his manager shows how much the 25-year-old has come on in the last year.

You could say that Huws - a second-half substitute in Saturday's 1-0 victory against Gillingham - was significant to McCarthy but valued under Lambert.

While mentally he’s more confident as each day goes by injury-free, his focus now will be looking to get a grip on his place back in the team and making it his own.

His attitude to get up and get on with things is flawless, despite so many setbacks during his young career.

One of Town’s weaknesses from last season was midfield service and giving it to the strikers to score. The same can’t be said this time around.

Ipswich stormed through the first half - that was largely down to Huws getting on the ball and trying to make things happen for the advancing Nolan and strike duo Kayden Jackson and James Norwood.

Understandably, tiredness played a part in the second half and Huws was ultimately replaced by 67th-minute substitute Antony Georgiou, but the signs of the Emyr Huws we all know and love are slowly but surely coming back to prominence.

There will be chances for all of Lambert’s squad to prove their worth against varied opponents, whether that be in league, Leasing.com trophy or FA Cup action.

Maintaining your place in this current side is hard enough, even if you have made over 300 appearances like captain Luke Chambers.

It doesn’t guarantee you a place in Lambert’s starting XI; the depth of quality in his squad available to him is incredible for a League One side.

Meanwhile, Huws will hope to keep getting games under his belt and becoming that important figure in the future of Ipswich Town.

It’s fair to say he’s going the right way about it.