Town have been rocked by the news that striker Nicky Forster will be out of action for up to six weeks. The 31-year-old summer free signing from Reading will have a cartilage operation within the next couple of days.

Boss Joe Royle told the club site: "Nicky's got to have a cartilage operation and is likely to be out for four to six weeks.

"He's due to have an operation in the next 48 hours, as soon as we can get him in, really.

"He felt it last week, is not sure exactly when it happened but he's certainly not right with it and we need to clear it up as soon as possible.

"It's frustrating because he's looked very sharp. Let's hope we are getting all our bad luck with injuries over at the start of the season."

Forster's absence gives Dean Bowditch, who scored twice for the reserves on Monday, an opportunity to secure a regular place in the Town line-up alongside Sam Parkin.

Bowditch came on as a sub for Forster on Saturday at Leicester after recovering from a foot injury.

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