Striker Paul Taylor says he’s hoping to be back in action before the end of the season, however, manager Mick McCarthy is more cautious about the 25-year-old’s prospects of returning before May. Taylor, who joined the Blues from Peterborough for an initial fee of £1.5 million in August, suffered a foot injury which eventually required surgery in only his third game for Town.

Taylor told the club site: “My recovery is going well and I am making good progress. We will see how things go but I’m hoping to be back before the season is over. That’s the target.”

McCarthy says players tend to be positive in these circumstances but believes things have to be taken slowly: “Paul’s optimistic about it, but that’s always the case.

“You get injured, you’re completely demoralised, you’re in a boot and then when you come back you never think it’s going to happen, but they’re fit young men so they heal pretty quickly.

“You start your rehab and then suddenly he’s running on the Alter-G, the machine where you can take 90% of your bodyweight off and he gets a bit of a kick out of that.

“He’s optimistic. I’m not being pessimistic, I’m being realistic, if he’s not right, he ain’t starting. There’s no point in him coming back for a couple of games and then finding out he’s injured for the close season.

“If he’s right, brilliant, but I think the prognosis for him at the start was six months and that date would be the end of the season. But he’ll go off to St George’s Park and have some rehab there as well.”

Photo: Action Images

sirbenofmorlingshire added 17:19 - Feb 21 Do we think Paul Taylor will ever play for us again? I think I'm right in saying MM didn't sign him, we do have a few strikers we've now bought in, just wondering what MM's thoughts are on him... Has he ever really seen him play, is he in the long term plans? Feel a bit sorry Taylor, signed by a manager who gets sacked, gets a bad injury so misses the season, when he comes back it's all under a different regieme... I guess if he's really good though maybe the new manager with be an added boost for him? I hope for the money PJ spent we get some return out of him, would be a shame for all parties if not.

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hollywoodginge added 17:24 - Feb 21 I think I would be right in saying that McCarthy rates him and has gone on record as saying he was watching him with a view to taking him to Wolves, I might be mistaken but I'm sure it was stated by MM in one of his earliest interviews after he became boss.
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Dowson added 17:40 - Feb 21 What a player he was in those games he played... Certainly one of the best players we have so to ask if he will play for us is again is mental, its a no brainer.
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ipswichtillidie added 17:46 - Feb 21 100% agree Dowson.. Class act,,, probably the best player on our books.... Can see him playing left side for us next season..
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onlybluesandhorses added 18:01 - Feb 21 Just hope he will be playing for us and not Hollesley Bay. Looked good when he played.
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Wickets added 18:33 - Feb 21 Yes from what we have seen of him you could not fail to be impressed, looking foward to your return Paul.
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Knightsy added 18:58 - Feb 21 What happened with his assault charge, after what happened in Robert Ransomes Bar ?
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Pessimistic added 19:13 - Feb 21 We really need him. If he had stayed fit long enough he may have kept P.J. in his job! Oh well, if he get back before season's end he will be a real bonus!
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jas0999 added 19:16 - Feb 21 Difficult to judge how good he will be. Key is to get him fit. Mick is right not to rush a return. Pointless risking another injury or relapse.
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RetroBlue added 19:26 - Feb 21 Stick him in the oxygen chamber. C'mon you know it makes sense !!
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walberswick added 19:48 - Feb 21 turn into another chopra and will have forgotten what a football is by the time he's available again. £1.2 m turkey.
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TimmyH added 19:53 - Feb 21 Yep no point rushing back, hopefully we won't get in the situation where we find it desperate for him to come back before the end of the season. Did well in the few games he played only problem at the time practically everybody else wasn't!
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RYITFC added 19:56 - Feb 21 Really like the look of Taylor, he didn't score in his 3 appearances, but looked a player. Very busy, quick feet, not shy to get his shots away and works his socks off. A Taylor, Mcgoldrick partnership could turn out to be one of the best in the division.
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compton added 21:06 - Feb 21 to pessimistic. it's a good job he didn't stay fit then
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Warkys_Tash added 22:50 - Feb 21 Quality player, we could do with his pace & trickery, assists & goals from the wide positions. Looking forward to seeing him lay next season. Highly rated by many, just need to keep his head down & not get in anymore trouble off the pitch, otherwise it could be a very short career.
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Warkys_Tash added 22:50 - Feb 21 @Walberswick, Foxtrott Oscar and die you Norfolk troll.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 23:05 - Feb 21 I find it bizarre how people are questioning whether he can get into the team. Many will have seen him only three times - I've seen him about 20 now, and can honestly say he has the ability to be our BEST player. And also, forget about him being a striker... his three appearances here were quite clearly on the wing, where his pace and trickery were most effective.

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fussysnake added 23:11 - Feb 21 I do hope he keeps his head down... works hard and succeeds here at Ipswich! He has a bad record (the whole drug thing and the arrest) but hopefully he can put that behind him and do well... i certainly arnt judging him! Hes just become a dad so maybe thats just what he needs to mature abit! He certainly looked promising on the pitch those 3 games!!! COYB
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Garv added 23:57 - Feb 21 Probably our best player fully fit.
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NITFC added 00:00 - Feb 22 Walberswick and anyone else who doubts Paul Taylor. You clearly were not at Middlesborough in September when he had an amazing game. Stop being so negative. This is one hell of a player and I can't help feeling that Paul Jewell was unlucky with his injury. I know Mr Jewell had many shortcomings but if Paul Taylor had stayed fit who knows how the season would have panned out

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Marcus added 02:19 - Feb 22 It's good to see he's eager to return but it's more likely and probably better if he can do a full per-season first rather than a couple of cameo performances at the end of the season when he isn't match sharp. Perhaps he'll get a couple of reserve games.
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walberswick added 07:27 - Feb 22 Four years ago, when he was playing for Chester City, he was banned from playing for six months after traces of cocaine were found in a random drugs sample.
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Len_Brennan added 07:36 - Feb 22 He is a very good player, great speed & trickery, and he should certainly be a first XI choice for next season on ability alone. I'm just not sure where best to deploy him for us & what other changes of personnel or style are required to accommodate his strenghts. Pace is certaintly an area we won't be lacking in up front in 2013/14.
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