Town have confirmed that striker David McGoldrick suffered an ankle ligament injury during Tuesday’s 1-0 EFL Cup defeat to Stevenage and is facing six-to-eight weeks out, if he doesn’t require surgery, which would lead to an absence of 12 weeks.
"It’s devastating news for Didz and it’s a real freak injury as well,” manager Mick McCarthy told the club site.
"He went on at half-time and with almost his first touch, he jumped for the ball and landed awkwardly. He thought he has rocked his ankle and ran it off.
"It turns out he has damaged the ligament in his ankle and we are looking at six-to-eight weeks on the sidelines. "
Town are hopeful the Republic of Ireland international won’t need to go under the knife.
"He will see the surgeon on Monday and hopefully he won’t need an operation,” McCarthy continued. "If he does, it could be 12 weeks out.”
A 12-week absence would see McGoldrick sidelined until early November, which may well see McCarthy looking to add to his striking options, even having added Luke Varney as cover this morning.
Several Championship clubs were keeping a close eye on McGoldrick, including Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle, but the injury ends any likelihood of sides making a move for him before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
The injury also rules McGoldrick out of the Republic of Ireland's home friendly against Oman on Wednesday 31st August and their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier in Serbia on Monday 5th September.
He also seems very unlikely to make the early October qualifiers at home to Georgia and in Moldova.