Ipswich Town attacker Sone Aluko set to return against Peterborough

The experienced attacker has been out since suffering a knee injury at the end of August, when he limped out of the Blues’ 6-0 Papa John’s Trophy victory over Northampton at Portman Road. 

After returning to full training with the squad last week, well ahead of schedule, the 33-year-old is likely to make the squad for this weekend’s home clash with Peterborough. 

“He’s trained well and it’s a big boost to have him back,” manager Kieran McKenna said.

Aluko suffered a knee injury against Northampton (Image: Steve Waller) 

“We still have one session to go (on Friday morning) but there is every chance he will be back in the squad and the pitch this weekend. 

“We’ve been short in his position at the moment. The inside forward or No.10 positions have been a massive part of how we play so without Marcus (Harness) and Tyreece (John-Jules) we are lighter. We felt that in the game last weekend, not having options in those positions. 

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“That has limited our options over the course of the season so it’s great to have a player back there. 

“Sone brings qualities to those positions that not everybody has, with his composure and retention of the ball in tight spaces. That helps us control games and break teams down who are deep, while his aggression and pressing off the ball is excellent as well. 

“He brings us a lot and we’re delighted to have his qualities back.” 

Panutche Camara is still struggling with a groin problem (Image: Steve Waller)

Panutche Camara remains sidelined, though, with the groin injury which he has struggled with since joining the club in the summer still not right. 

“He’s still suffering with the groin injury he’s had and isn’t quite able to get over at the moment,” McKenna said of the former Plymouth midfielder. 

“We’re investigating it but it goes back to the issue he had in the summer, which he had surgery on before he arrived. It’s still not a position he’s happy with so we’re investigating that further.” 

Lee Evans is working on the grass with Town’s rehabilitation coaches but has yet to rejoin the squad fully, at a time when McKenna has no new injury concerns to worry about. 

“There’s nothing this week,” he said. 

“Over the course of any training week you have knocks and issues but nothing that should limit the squad over the weekend. 

“We’re getting players back bit-by-bit and, hopefully, in a few weeks we will be in a stronger position again than we are now. We’ve been stretched since September with a spate of joint issues/ 

“Overall the group have coped admirably but we’ll be happier when we’re back closer to full strength than we are now.”