Midfielder David Norris has been ruled out of Town's first game of the new season at home to Preston. The former Plymouth midfielder suffered a new heel injury during the Blues' friendly at Brentford unrelated to the surgery he underwent over the summer.

Norris had a plantar fascia problem after joining Town from Argyle in January which eventually needed an operation. The game at Griffin Park was his first after his surgery but he limped off at half-time having looked uncomfortable throughout his 45 minutes on the field.

Physio Matt Byard told the club site: "David had made a good recovery from the surgery, but then unfortunately suffered a new injury in the friendly at Brentford.

"It's a completely new injury, but it's in the same sort of area as before, with inflammation around the heel.

"David's recovery is under the supervision of London foot specialist Mr Lloyd-Williams, who treated successfully both Jason De Vos and Richard Naylor.

"He has checked the scans on David's heel and is very positive about his recovery, but it means the player has to be patient. The heel will settle down but it needs time.

"David is continuing to work on his general fitness without putting any pressure on the foot and as soon as he is clear to return to full training then it would probably be only a matter of maybe a week or two before he would be ready for the first team.

"He would obviously be short of match fitness, but his fitness levels are very good generally.

"With the inflammation still there and having played no football for a few weeks, he is obviously not going to be ready for August 9th and Preston.

"We are not going to put a timescale on his return. He is being monitored every day. He is making progress. It's a case of waiting until the heel bone settles down and then he'll be back playing again very soon after that. It will happen, he just has to be patient."

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