Boss Mick McCarthy has revealed that striker David McGoldrick is ahead of schedule as he recovers from the medial knee ligament injury which had seemed set to end his campaign.
McCarthy says Town’s 16-goal top scorer, who suffered the partial ligament tear in the Blackpool game in February, could be back by the end of the season and would definitely be fit for the play-offs if the Blues were to finish in the top six.
The former Nottingham Forest man was previously expected to be out for between 10 and 12 weeks.
"He’s doing brilliantly,” McCarthy said. "He has been an absolute model professional. He’s doing work before he comes in at the David Lloyd [gym], doing his bits and staying after, he’s been fantastic.
"They’re delighted with him. I reckon he’s a couple of weeks in front of what they thought, even to the point that he might even be fit for the end of the season.
"If we were to get to the play-offs, I think he would be. I don’t think there’d be any problem with that, I think he would. That’s down to the medical staff but also down to him working so hard, he’s been fantastic.”
He says the 26-year-old has shown no signs of getting down about the injury: "We’re not here to counsel Didz, he’s got injured and he’s looking after himself. He’ll get himself back.
"He’s in here working really hard. He’s focused on getting himself back, not at all moping around. All I ever see from him is grafting.”