Midfielder David Norris says he is hopeful he will match manager Roy Keane’s expectations and be back in action ahead of schedule. The former Plymouth man has been out of action since the opening day game at Coventry when he suffered knee ligament damage.

Norris told the club site: "Things are going well. I saw the specialist a couple of days ago and he was pleasantly surprised by how well the knee looked.

"It's definitely healing and that process will take care of itself. It's important for me now to build up the muscles as strong as possible around the knee to help it.

"I've come out of a fixed brace and am doing some swimming and cycling work and there has been a massive improvement just doing that over the last two weeks.

"I feel I am making progress now. The first two weeks were really hard and I was struggling to get my head around the fact that I was going to miss half the season.

"I've got to be guided by the specialists and physios, but I feel I'm ahead of schedule and have my own target in mind. If there are no setbacks, I'm sure it will be much closer to four months than six.

"The gaffer and the players have been great in helping me along. They have kept me involved in the banter and I just want to get back and help the lads as soon as possible."

Last week, manager Keane similarly felt that the 28-year-old would be back sooner rather than later: “He’s been told by the surgeons December, so I’ve said to him that means November, so we’re looking at November.”

Photo: Action Images

firestorm_westy added 11:27 - Oct 8 Can't wait - Norris is the catalyst that the rest of the team will be built around... Him and Leadbitter in midfield working box to box... Things are going to move forward rapidly!
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AJblue added 11:36 - Oct 8 Couldn't agree more firestorm-westy. those 2 in the middle, pretty much the best pairing in the division imo. Cmon u blooooooos
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SuffolkMauler added 11:44 - Oct 8 Norris and Leadbitter is definately the best pairing in this division, can't wait!!
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JayITFC added 11:44 - Oct 8 Leadbitter & Norris center of the park... *drool*
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joshyUTD added 11:48 - Oct 8 norris coming back early... so there is some good news at portman road
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Markie31 added 11:48 - Oct 8 Norris, Leadbitter,Civelli, Edwards, Quinn, Garvan, Colback, Trotter.....once everyone's fit the midfield options are looking good!
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marcoitfc added 11:54 - Oct 8 jayitfc.........better than Smith, Nolan and Barton??? methinks not !! Yes, it would be nice to get Norris back on the pitch and he can only benefit what is a very average midfield at present. Does Trotter frustrate other fans as much as me??? He looks the part, is strong, has an excellent engine etc but he just does not seem able to impose himself on a game. I would have thought that Keano would have been the perfect role model for him but it is just not happening yet. Look at his pathetic "challenge" in the run up to Hume's goal at Barnsley...........would Keane have let him skip past?? Anyway, keep the faith, a win is not too far away........before Xmas I Hope !!

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bluecheese added 11:56 - Oct 8 i dont think we'll see Garvan again
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dobbie73 added 12:02 - Oct 8 Pretty much agree with all of the above. I guess Leadbitter was brought in to (temporarily) replace Norris, but those two together .... could be good! KEANO!! NORRISO! LEADBITTERO! Lol, all sounds a bit Italian, eh?
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ITFC1985 added 12:28 - Oct 8 alot of people were moaning about how much we paid for Norris but i think it has shown how much we have missed him in midfield, him and Leadbitter will be the drive we have needed in the last couple of months!! lets hope he is back sooner ahead of schedule!! BLARMY
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SomershamBlue added 12:32 - Oct 8 It's very good news that his recovery is going well. Please don't pile unreasonable expectations on him though. He will still need to get match fit before he can perform as well as we all hope (and need).
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AJblue added 12:45 - Oct 8 marcoitfc, I am not having a go, but! Smith,Nolanand Barton is not a pairing!!!!! LOL I do agree with you about Trotter,frustrating isnt the word.But hopefully the fact that he is young and relatively inexperienced is what the problem is.He may mature into a force, we can but hope. Dobbie73 sounds a bit Italian, shame we cant defend like the Ities do!!!
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FrowsyArmLarry added 12:57 - Oct 8 Markie31 you can cross Quinn, Garvan, Colback, Trotter off that list as they're all sh1te. Better hope we keep Norris, Leadbitter,Civelli, Edwards fit!
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IpswichKev added 13:05 - Oct 8 Oh yes. When Norris is fit we will have an awesome central midfield. Best in the division by a mile!
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Lightningboy added 13:16 - Oct 8 Sorely missed..our key player imho and the engine room of the midfield..he and Leadbitter will form a brilliant midfield pair - our best since the Magilton/Holland days...don't rush him back tho - give him time to make sure he's 100% fit please. Good luck with the recovery David.
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BruceIsGod added 13:18 - Oct 8 another cb, lb,fc and were sorted, things look abit birghter now
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sonian_blue added 13:25 - Oct 8 Drooling about this pairing already. You watch us go in the new year...play offs are not out of the question Come On You Blue Boys
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mickeyjb added 13:32 - Oct 8 Thats if he is played in the middle of the park! wasn't he being played in a wide position most of the time?
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TractorRoyNo1 added 14:08 - Oct 8 Key thing is for him to be fit, the reason he didn't initally win over the fans was that he was carrying an injury from Plymouth. Once fit he was probably our best player in the 2nd half of last season. These injuries take a lot of time, don't expect to see him back to his best until Easter.
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WickedBlue added 14:19 - Oct 8 @mickeyjb he was under JM but the games he has played for RK was at CM.
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BlueBoots added 14:35 - Oct 8 Hoping to see a midfield 3 of Trotter sitting and Leadbitter & Norris bombing box-to-box. I think we could finally get away with playing 3 strikers with that midfield, and soon surge up the table. Onwards and Upwards!
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MAVERICK added 16:15 - Oct 8 Legbiter and Norris. The Dynamic Dual
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RedDust added 16:19 - Oct 8 Civelli---Leadbitter---Norris---Edwards
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JayITFC added 17:29 - Oct 8 marcoitfc if you have a read again mate you will see I just said *drool* it was the guy above who said best pairing in the division lol!
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Fatcatevans added 20:46 - Oct 8 Norris has been sorely missed and in tandem with Ledbitter, could help us out of the current midfield mess. Anything has got to be better than the aptly named Trotter who is surely sponsored by Mogadon.
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