The young centre half played some of a behind closed doors friendly against Leyton Orient this week - and Paul is delighted that he has got his boots back on.
"Izzie playing is a massive plus for us; I can remember him at youth level three years ago and what an awesome talent he was then," he says.
"It is fantastic for the young man to play a game of football; his face was beaming after the game and let's hope that continues.
"It is about getting his match fitness and the fitness of his knee; that is going to be the question mark over him, but the medical people have done everything possible.
"It has taken a long time for him to recover to this point, but we have got our fingers crossed and the nice thing was, the day after the game he walked straight out onto the training round ready to train - I thought that was a very positive sign.
"It means his knee must have been feeling good, but although there is a long way to go for him at least he has made a start."
Titi Camara scored two goals in the 4-0 win, and, with Gary Charles, was the only other senior player in the side.
"Titi scored a couple of good goals actually, and it was a good work out for him," says Paul.
"The match was a good chance for me and Glenn to have a look at a couple of the youngsters who have been doing well in the U19s - both Anton Ferdinand and Phil Lumsden had a run out for instance - and it gave us a chance to look at some of the youngsters in a slightly senior game."
The reserves also won 4-0 in the week, beating Wimbledon away, and Paul says: "It is a good group of young players there, with a bit of experience in Scott and Hayden who have been playing in the last few weeks.
"They have got themselves a good little spirit going there now, and it was a good evening.
"Liam Rosenoir had a good first run out for us and the plan is for him to play again on Tuesday in the reserve game at Upton Park, so we will have another little look then."