Midfielder Luke Hyam is hoping to return to training at the start of November having endured a frustrating, injury hit 2015.
The 23-year-old initially suffered his knee injury in the FA Cup replay against Southampton at Portman Road in January and having broken down when having been close to a comeback on a number of occasions eventually underwent surgery during pre-season.
"We have pencilled in a date of November 2nd for me to return to full training,” Hyam said in an interview with Saturday’s match programme. "That is what we are hoping for but it’s a case of one day at a time.
"The next step is for me to start working with [Town fitness coach] Andy Liddell outside. I have spoken to [physio Matt Byard] and looked at the possibility of talking to a sports psychologist as well.
"I might do that. My knee went two or three times before the surgery and having not played for a year, I might be a bit tentative when I start increasing my work. I know though, that as soon as I’ve got that first tackle out of the way, that first shot, I’ll be fine.”
Hyam has been undergoing his rehab alongside Luke Varney, who went under the knife having ruptured his achilles in the first leg of the play-off with Norwich.
The 33-year-old is currently a free agent having left Saturday's opponents Blackburn at the end of last season following his loan spell with the Blues but is expected to sign a contract with Town once he is fit.
"Luke Varney and me are looking to get back at a similar time,” Hyam added. "He’s been out longer than me. He did his achilles in the play-off game while I didn’t have surgery until we were back in pre-season but over the next few weeks I will be catching up with him.
"I have been doing gymnastics with him and it does help that Varns has been around. He’s a top guy. He has said that he can see me catching him up but he’s pleased for me. It’s helped his recovery as well, I think.”
Former Northgate High School pupil Hyam, who is contracted until the summer of 2016 with the deal understood to include an option for a further season, knows it won’t be an easy job to win a place in the team once he is finally back to full fitness.
"This is the best squad I have seen in my time at the club, even going back to when Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi were here scoring goals and I was watching from the stands as part of the Academy,” he reflected.
"I think we have got a good chance of getting promoted but we know what’s ahead of us. I’m in the last year of my contract as well and want to do enough to extend my stay here so I’ve got some big challenges in front of me.”