THERE were chinks of light amid the gloom of Ipswich Town's rather predictable Carabao Cup defeat at Luton.
The emergence of Bailey Clements and Armando Dobra - both handed starting spots as manager Paul Lambert rung the changes - was pleasing, as was the return of Jordan Roberts and Jon Nolan.
However, even more eye-catching was the Welsh connection... the re-emergence of Gwion Edwards and a milestone appearance for Emyr Huws, starting his first competitive game since the final day of the 2016/17 campaign.
Some will say the jury is out with regards to Edwards.
There's no doubt his form and confidence nosedived during the middle chunk of last season, hindered by a pesky groin injury.
However, I'm a fan and saw enough in the opening weeks to believe he can become a key creative outlet.
Edwards impressed with some exhilarating wing play, scoring on the opening day and then again against Norwich, and certainly justified his £700,000 price tag - joining from tomorrow's opponents, Peterborough.
The injury set him back but he looked rejuvenated towards the end of the season and can be a pivotal player this term, if he reproduces that encouraging form.
The same goes for Huws, who has been cruelly ravaged by injury since signing permanently in June 2017.
I feel desperately sorry for him.
Huws was brilliant during his initial loan spell but, since then, you could count his first-team appearances on one hand.
It makes you wonder how easy it is to come back from such a long, depressing lay-off.
It must be hard, physically and mentally, but let's hope he rediscovers the form, drive and creativity that brought him to our attention in the first place.
Having a fit, re-energised Huws is like having a new player on the Town roster.
And it adds depth and quality to an already-strong area.
As for tomorrow, I'm backing Town... if they play like they did in the first half against Sunderland.
If they replicate that quality, intensity and tempo for 90 minutes, there's no doubt they can come away with the points - much to the delight of their 4,000-strong Blue Army.
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