Marcus Stewart will miss the next two months of Town's season after breaking his jaw in two places in a training ground incident this morning. The Town striker was involved in an accidental collision with Pablo Couñago and was immediately taken to Ipswich Hospital.
Stewart will undergo an operation tomorrow morning where two plates will be inserted into his jaw. This will speed up his recovery.
Stewart's injury will come as a major blow to Town who are currently on the look-out for a striker to partner the ex-Huddersfield man. Turkish international Hakan Sukur has turned down the chance to come to Town while Greek international Angelos Charisteas has been watched by the Blues and may now look an attractive proposition for George Burley.
Stewart's absence also reduces the chances of George Burley allowing Richard Naylor to leave the club. Naylor has long been rumoured to be on his way out of Portman Road, but Stewart's injury, as well as Alun Armstrong's virus, makes him Town's most experienced striker. Pablo Couñago and Darren Bent are Town's only other two frontmen, with Bent now a likely starter alongside Naylor on Sunday.
Other striking options while Stewart is out include Martijn Reuser who played up front at times in Holland and Finidi George, who has already played in attack for Town. Currently out with a broken cheekbone the Nigerian should be fit before Stewart's expected return in mid-January.