Town manager Paul Hurst says Emyr Huws could make his return to action when the U23s take on Hull City at Portman Road on Monday evening (KO 7pm).
The Wales international, 24, has been sidelined since last December when he suffered a knee injury at Middlesbrough which required surgery.
"I think Ems, there’s an element because he’s been out for so long, he’s a little bit cautious at times, but I think we’re coming through that now,” Hurst said.
"At the end of training today I asked him how he was and he was really positive. He said his knee felt really good, but he understands he needs to be fitter.
"My comment to him was that that’s a good place to be in. While it’s hard to get fit, as in the physical effort required and when you’re doing some of the running or lifting or whatever it is it’s testing you mentally, if that knee’s fine then that’s a good place to be in.
"Again, that’s a positive for me and he’s another player that I think we would see certainly enhance the squad and I’m sure the fans would love to see him back out on the pitch.”
A chance of Huws playing in the U23s on Monday? "Hopefully. I haven’t discussed that with him but realistically that’s what I’d be looking at providing we get through tomorrow and Saturday with no real issues.
"One thing I would say with Ems and his knee, there will still be times when it swells. That’s not to say that’s a disaster but some days it might just be a little bit puffy compared to others.
"That’s just the body’s natural response and providing that goes pretty quickly, which most times it will, hopefully all the time, we can live with that.
"It’s just I think if you look at it as that person, that player you can get a little bit panicky about it. But, no, hopefully we’ll get him involved on Monday night.”