Striker Paul Taylor is making progress and is still expected to be fit for the start of next season, according to assistant manager Terry Connor. Taylor, 25, suffered a foot injury which ultimately required surgery in the September home defeat to Wolves, only his third game for the Blues following a £1.5 million switch from Peterborough.

Connor says he’s now moving in the right direction: “He’s doing very well. I saw him in the gym the other week and he was doing some Pilates. He’s down to a little boot now and he’s doing a lot more.

“I think the physio had said he should be ready for next season and that’s still the case. We’re seeing him a lot more around the place, in the gym building himself up. It’s a slow process but he’s on course to be ready for us for next season.”

The Blues assistant boss says Taylor suffering the injury so soon after moving to Portman Road would have been a tough break for an already under pressure Paul Jewell: “Absolutely, [it was a bitter blow for him], but it was a bitter blow for the player, never mind the manager.

“The player doesn’t want to come and get injured. I’m sure he would have shown glimpses of his form and what he can do but it was curtailed for him.

“All we can hope is that he makes a full recovery and is back playing again as soon as he possibly can and can carry on from where he left off.”

And when he does return in pre-season, Connor says it will be like adding a new player to the squad: “It’ll feel like [he’s the first summer signing].

"When he comes back out on the training pitch it’ll feel like we’ve got a brand new player to choose from. That’ll give everybody a lift.”

Photo: Action Images

Len_Brennan added 06:27 - Feb 5 McGoldrick or Taylor alongside Murphy or Nouble as our striking options for next season perhaps. McLean to go back after his loan & Chopra to move on. How about JET to provide another option, after an intensive pre-season under Terry C finally gets his fitness & attitude right!! It could happen.
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Marcus added 06:35 - Feb 5 Right now I can't see JET settling down. His attitude stinks of someone who feels he's 'above' the team. Time to get rid and replace with a better team player. Chopra is capable but distracted, he hasn't earnt his wages and hasn't done enough to show his head is in the right place. I think now is the time for us to cut our losses, Taylor is his replacement for next season.

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village_blue added 07:05 - Feb 5 Marcus - You say that Chopra is capable but distracted hasn't earnt his wages and hasn't done enough to show his head is in the right place , I think the same could be said of Taylor with his off field problems so do we have to get rid of him as well? As for Jet well least said the better just move him on.
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pazelle added 07:32 - Feb 5 Leave JET alone, he's still a kid - y'all were slagging off Tommy Smith last year and who's laughing now? A bit of patience is needed with the youngsters, keep the faith!
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jdtractor96 added 07:38 - Feb 5 Couldn't agree more with pazelle. Yes Chopra has had some serious problems, but he is certainly trying to change them and get back to his best! without the goals he scored last year we'd have finished even lower, and remember the two 90th minute winners he's scored this season in the league? Once we're safe I'd love to see Chops have a run in the starting XI and see how hungry and willing he really is!

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bluemikey100 added 08:26 - Feb 5 pace in abundance next season oppositiondefence gonna get caught on break so frightened to attack so we can put more pressure on the team
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wkj added 08:55 - Feb 5 To be honest On Chopra; I personally agree it's time for him to go; I know Taylor has had his share of problems off of the pitch; however my issue is the amount of dishonesty shown from chopra in the recent saga; I still get the feeling he says a lot to try and save face but has very little commitment and desire toward the club; I would love to be wrong but I do feel this club is capable of being much better without his services

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algarvefan added 09:43 - Feb 5 Hope Taylor is fit and well soon, good luck with the recovery mate. As for the rest of the comments on here, these players are now fringe players and if they want to get back in the team they have to fight hard for a place. If you want something bad enough you'll get it, simple as!
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itfc1981 added 10:04 - Feb 5 Really not sure if Taylor is up to it. His goal record in the Championship is nothing special.
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itfc1981 added 10:07 - Feb 5 Taylor in 1.5 mil. Rhodes out 1 mil. Cheers Cleggy!
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DanLyles added 10:25 - Feb 5 Taylor doesn't have the best goal scoring record, but he does have the dribbling ability and pace to worry defenders and these skills give our attack an extra dimension. Taylor thrived in a slightly deeper role at Posh and when I saw him play against Huddersfield earlier in the season he looked a real threat. PJ played him on the right wing and he looked like an in form Edwards :) I would love Chopra to sort his head out over the summer and have a renaissance period, re-discovering his Cardiff form when he was considered one of this leagues best strikers. An in form Chops and McGoldrick would be devestating. Wordsworth could some more fire power on the left and consistently provide our strikers with the ammunition they have been starved of.

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JackITFC96 added 10:31 - Feb 5 Jet has lots to come yet
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JackITFC96 added 10:32 - Feb 5 And I think noble and jet up top together with perform when nouble got on the other day he looked the right man
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runningout added 10:35 - Feb 5 every single player has plenty of room for improvement at this club..
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Marshalls_Mullet added 10:37 - Feb 5 Phil / Gav - Where did my comment disappear to??
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jas0999 added 10:55 - Feb 5 1.5M and people say PJ didn't spend any money!! He made a promosing start, but injury record and goalscoring record was always a concern. Unlucky to be out for such a long time though. I wish him a successful recovery.
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MickMillsTash added 11:37 - Feb 5 Hopefully a big bowl of porridge will aid his recovery
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RaymondovicBlue added 12:09 - Feb 5 What lo9oks good to me is that the club are keeping within fair play rules to protect the long term, AND building a squad that allows debate on here about who is playing where ... hopefully this competition is mirrored on the training ground and ultimately in more results like Saturday !!!! Onward and Upward !!!
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Marcus added 12:31 - Feb 5 village_blue - I see where you're coming from but Taylor hasn't had the chance to prove himself on the pitch due to injury. I'd love to see Chopra become a success but it does feel as if we're bankrolling him with very few returns at the moment.
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kerryblue added 13:05 - Feb 5 He will do better if he kept away from dodgy situations in nightclubs,Chopra has disgraced the clubs name alot more than Taylor and both chopra and Lazyjet should be loaned out then sold in the summer they are no good to us and are like a bad smell around the place
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ITFCMarcus00 added 14:06 - Feb 5 When i first saw Paul play i thought we have a very good player. The type of player we have needed for some time. Then he got injured in the match against Wolves and was out for the season. I personally think if he was fit and playing we would be alot higher and scoreing more goals. Im glad that we will see him again not like Ulrich Le Pen who played in his debut match got injured and never played for us again. I think next season will be a very promising year for Ipswich Town and for us fans.

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jdtractor96 added 15:17 - Feb 5 Hate people on here doubting his quality after just 3 games for us. How many of you were at Posh last year? Yes we played awfully and got completely thumped, but he was at the centre of everything. I live close to P'boro and have many mates who support them. I've watched him on a number of occasions and said every time that he was the stand out man. I honestly cannot wait until he's fully fit so he can prove his doubters wrong!

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rymall93 added 19:16 - Feb 5 Saw him leaving the training ground today smoking a fag
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BuckieBlue added 21:50 - Feb 5 As TC says Taylor will be like a new signing. With McGoldrick, Nouble- if he comes on- and whoever else MM signs I think we could be as strong up top as anyone team next season. JET has been mentioned a few times above- I thought TC was working to turn him into a striker, so can't see him being dumped. Chops- i think it all boils down to how MM and TC see him/his situation- worth more patience or get rid?

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BuckieBlue added 21:50 - Feb 5 As TC says Taylor will be like a new signing. With McGoldrick, Nouble- if he comes on- and whoever else MM signs I think we could be as strong up top as anyone team next season. JET has been mentioned a few times above- I thought TC was working to turn him into a striker, so can't see him being dumped. Chops- i think it all boils down to how MM and TC see him/his situation- worth more patience or get rid?

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