Striker James Norwood is set to be out of action for at least six weeks after tearing a hamstring in training earlier in the week.

The injury is a further blow to Norwood, who spent much of last season struggling with groin problems which required him to undergo surgery twice.

The 30-year-old has only fleetingly played a part in the opening weeks of this campaign - one start, four sub appearances - having spent most of pre-season rehabilitating from his most recent operation in February.

"It’s not as bad as first feared but the scans have shown that Nors is likely to be out for six weeks at a minimum," Town's general manager of football operations Lee O'Neill told the club site.

Norwood’s latest injury leaves the Blues short on strikers with Kayden Jackson not yet fully fit after the groin problem he suffered in training and Aaron Drinan sidelined until mid-November with a thigh issue.

Oli Hawkins impressed when making his full league debut as the cenral striker in the 2-0 victory over Rochdale at the weekend, while youngster Ben Folami is likely to come into the reckoning for a place on the bench given the lack of other fit options.

Manager Paul Lambert could weigh-up whether to make a signing as cover but the Blues are significantly hampered in their ability to make additions by the salary cap and he may in any case believe he has enough options already at his disposal with Freddie Sears also able to play down the middle.

The international transfer window closes on Monday, but clubs are able to complete domestic transfers until Friday 16th October.

News that Norwood had suffered another injury first emerged last night when he was photographed by a fan with crutches in a Stowmarket restaurant with the striker making his displeasure at having been surreptitiously snapped clear.

Photo: Matchday Images

planetblue_2011 added 10:49 - Oct 1 Oh dear another key player injured!! Not good really just hope Jackson is fit enough for the bench at least for this weekend. These injuries still keep happening🤷‍♂️
2

PackwoodBlue added 10:56 - Oct 1 This is a blow and wishing him a speedy recovery! I still think a fit (and lighter) Norwood with his head in the right place could tear up this league. We just haven't seen that so far unfortunately. We need an additional striker now to add options. Can't all be on Freddie and the midfielders' shoulders. Hawkins had a superb debut but not sure he's going to get us any more than 10 a season.

2

ArnieM added 11:03 - Oct 1 You are spot on , but the problem is Town have a massive squad of highly pain players who we cant offload and who 50% of them wont be out of contract until next year. So id think we are stuffed for bringing anyone else until we offload....
0

Surco72 added 11:12 - Oct 1 For me Norwood is our only natural goalscorer and given a run in the team we are currently playing and creating from midfield he would only benefit so bad timing . My biggest concern is what we are doing at training as a club as we are getting way more than our share of injuries especially long term over the past few seasons , which has to question out dated training methods , poor medical back up ?

2

DifferentGravy added 11:14 - Oct 1 I have no idea about any actions/comments outside of the football pitch...... but some incredibly unfair comments on here based on his ability. Scored and created goals in his first season (missed quite a few too). Hes a good player but is unfortunately injured again. All the best to him in recovery. Agree with Arnie......what is going on with the number of injuries?!? Yes, all clubs endure them but i havent seen another club with quite so many (and long term)

5

dirtydingusmagee added 11:18 - Oct 1 He is a liability in both fitness and attitude, we cant afford to have players like that if we are going to get anywhere. He gets plenty of attention which he seems to want, BUT for wrong reasons,
2

jollyroger added 11:35 - Oct 1 What I find annoying is these injuries happen in training ,none of them has happened in game time , very strange , is training to intense.
4

LonE17Blue added 11:37 - Oct 1 Give the man a break ffs!
4

BluJu added 11:52 - Oct 1 I personally think it's great that the guy isn't just another faceless clone that's had the character bleached out of him by the PR machine. Right or wrong in his opinions, at least he has a profile. Bloody bad luck for both him and the club with his injuries. Hopefully his recovery will be quicker than the estimate, as is often the case.
4

Westy added 11:57 - Oct 1 Step up Ollie Hawkins. Said it before, but you do have to question the training regime.
3

Michael101 added 12:03 - Oct 1 I just wonder if players had pay if you play contract weather we would have so many injuries???.not just Ipswich but ..
0

Marinersnose added 12:10 - Oct 1 Firstly I would say that Norwood has an excellent goal scoring record before his arrival at town, but for me he's never looked the part at this level. He appears heavy and not particularly mobile and spends too much time mouthing off at referees . His awareness of offside appears very poor and for me I would question whether he's motivated to perform for this club. His attitude never appears to be good and I believe that he may be on his way once he has recovered. I wish him well in his recovery but for me having supported the club since the 70's he will only be remembered only in a negative way amongst the Ipswich strikers past and present.Lets get a hungry young striker on loan who wants to prove himself

5

grow_our_own added 12:10 - Oct 1 Big loss. We're now very short up front and need a loanee. Early days, but Hawkins is very unproven. One assist so far in his appearances, other than that he hasn't impressed. I believe our long injury list for many years is because of our massive squad. Too much competition leads to over-exertion and aggression in training. Would be improved by trimming by 10 players. We were regularly beaten last year by squads of around 18 players

0

rugbytomc added 12:16 - Oct 1 Drinan, Morris, Norwood injured. That currently leaves us with Dawkins, Jackson and Folami. I think that's enough cover but if one of them were to get injured or Jackson doesn't get fully fit soon enough then I'd want a loan player as cover. Haven't we had a review on all our injuries before? Maybe when Hurst came in? Seems like they're coming from trying too hard - which is bad luck but shows the determination of the players to succeed this season

0

runningout added 12:20 - Oct 1 Blinking nora
0

MickMillsTash added 12:35 - Oct 1 A big Miss Ok he may be a prat on the pitch and possibly off it but I think he is vital. The first 3 performances last year were very good and if we could get that out of him regularly- or get him fit then we will be better for it. Speaking of prats - Could Joe Garner do a job for us again? would be able to score at this level and at the moment we would not have to put with antics close up.

0

Linkboy13 added 12:36 - Oct 1 Bergholt Blue It's not the medical team it's what's happening before that in training. My guess and ive studied this is that too much running is being done in training and not enough strength work (Plyometrics or Injury prevention) or training when the body should be resting resulting in repetitive stress injuries (RSI). On a much lighter note somebody on here commented that Norwood was the best finisher at the club in fact his conversation rate is round about one in four and if you saw the quality of his penalties you would know why.

4

trulyblue added 12:58 - Oct 1 You'd think he'd dress up for a restaurant rather than turn up in his trains kit.
1

MonkeyAlan added 13:11 - Oct 1 Players always injured in training at this club. What's going on? We won't miss him anyway, as he has spent most of his time here injured. I'd get rid soon as possible. Wouldn't be any good at a higher level anyway.
1

Woodbridgian added 13:14 - Oct 1 Algarve Fan: Gascoigne was one of, if not the most talented footballer of his generation, who's discipline and personal behaviour ruined his career. Norwood can only be compared on one of those facts.
2

Skip73 added 13:29 - Oct 1 Why do so many previously injury free players come here and suddenly become sicknotes? There should be an internal investigation.
0

Esseeja added 14:24 - Oct 1 We need more than an internal investigation to fix this injury problem, I don't think it's just our training schedule, maybe we don't have enough physios/coaches or lack quality from them?
-1

ringwoodblue added 14:53 - Oct 1 These players get injured in training and not in matches cos they are hardly ever fit enough to play in a match! Can't see how we can be serious promotion contenders without a striker who is banging goals in week in week out, we can't rely on the midfielders forever. If we still let Jackson go, we are crazy. We will be playing McGuinness upfront at this rate! I despair.

2

dirtydingusmagee added 15:04 - Oct 1 Marinersnose, ,Totally agree, he has his fans ,but they must be judging him on scoring record prior to joining Town, he hasnt exactly lived up to the hype .
1

leftie1972 added 15:07 - Oct 1 I say this most times there is an injury. Step up Tyreece Simpson!
2

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