Ipswich Town midfielder Lee Evans could be back in action as soon as Boxing Day.
The Welshman started this season in fine form only to suffer medial knee ligament damage in the 1-0 home win against Derby on October 21.
Saturday's trip to Wycombe will be the ninth game in a row he's sat out, but there's hope that he could feature in the home clash with Oxford United nine days' later.
"It's going well," said the 28-year-old, when asked about his recovery when on co-commentary duties for Ipswich iFollow's coverage of Saturday's 2-1 home win against Peterborough United.
"It was a frustrating period to start with. I was in a knee brace for four/five weeks, I had a few injections and just had to let it heal.
"But now I'm back on the grass with the fitness team, working well and just hoping to be back out there as soon as possible.
"Hopefully in another couple of weeks I'll be there or thereabouts."
Asked about the impact manager Kieran McKenna has had at the club over the last year, Evans said: "He's a fantastic manager - his record speaks for itself. He's improved all of us individually and as a team. I can't speak highly enough of him.
"I've probably enjoyed my best run of form for a long time this season and maybe that is down to him giving me more freedom and licence to play the way I want to play, which is to get the team ticking and the team moving up the pitch."
Town's only two central midfield options at present are skipper Sam Morsy and homegrown teenager Cameron Humphreys.
Dominic Ball has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury, Panutche Camara continues to struggle with a groin issue, while Rekeem Harper (Exeter) and Idris El Mizouni (Leyton Orient) are out on loan.
Sone Aluko and Greg Leigh have both returned from injuries well ahead of schedule in recent weeks.
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