Manager Mick McCarthy says striker David McGoldrick is feeling “more positive and brighter” as he closes in on his return to action, having felt down after suffering a freak ankle injury in the EFL Cup defeat to Stevenage early last month.
The 28-year-old has faced more than his fair share of injury woe in recent seasons and suffered the latest problem when he landed awkwardly on his ankle and damaged ligaments.
Initially there were fears that the Republic of Ireland international might require surgery but the frontman has made good progress without having to go under the surgeon’s knife.
McCarthy says McGoldrick, who has spent much of his recuperation back home in Nottingham, was deeply frustrated but is now looking forward to his return.
"You can see that he’s got over that, I spoke to him [earlier in the week],” McCarthy said. "For the first couple of weeks he was just mortified, really down.
"But you get that first five weeks out of the way and he’s on the up now, he’s got to the halfway point in his 10 to 12 weeks.
"He’s now looking at his end date rather than thinking that 10 or 12 weeks seems such a long time away. I just thought he was a lot more positive and brighter.”