Winger Ryan Fraser may be disappointed after being ruled out for a minimum of two months with a knee injury but also feels like celebrating after initially fearing he could miss the rest of the season.
Team-mate Freddie Sears revealed: "Ryan’s injury is obviously a big blow for him and us, although to be honest it’s actually good news for him because when we first heard we were thinking it could have been a lot longer — six to eight months they were saying.
"The rumour at the start was that he had done his cruciate ligaments and there have been a few of those injuries so far this season at different clubs.
"You just never know with knee injuries but Ryan had a scan and got the best possible result from it. Two months isn’t too bad at all because it could have been a lot worse and we might have been missing him for the rest of the season.
"As it is, if we can have him back going into January it will be like having a new player on board. It’s obviously not good news that he is injured but it’s definitely good news for us and for him that he’s not going to be missing long term.
"He was in last week for a little bit then he went back home to Scotland and we haven’t seen him since. He’s also had a lot of work done at Bournemouth and I’m sure we’ll see him sooner rather than later.
"We saw from day one what a good player he is and we already knew about him from playing against him at Portman Road last season. He’s been brilliant for us and when he was told he would be out for two months he was delighted with that. Hopefully he’ll be back in that time but for now it’s up to someone else to step in and fill his shoes.”
Fraser’s absence could mean a call-up for Australian international Tommy Oar, signed on a free transfer after leaving Dutch club Utrecht at the end of last season and whose only first team appearances came in the 3-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Manchester United and as a late substitute for Daryl Murphy in the 2-0 league loss at Blackburn almost two weeks ago.
Sears added: "Tommy has looked really good. When he first came in not many of us knew a lot about him but he’s put himself about in training and at Old Trafford he looked really good. It’s down to the gaffer and whether he puts him in the team but Tommy has definitely done well.
"Ryan and Tommy are pretty similar. They are both sharp, good wingers but Tommy probably likes to go down the outside more and cross the ball early, whereas Ryan wants to come inside on his right foot.
"But they are both good players who like to deliver for the strikers. Tommy has a great left foot and great delivery, which the boys see in training every day.
"It’s up to him now to stake his claim and get in the team — then the challenge is for him to try to stay in it.”