Luke Hyam is facing another eight weeks on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery, but Jonny Williams, David McGoldrick and Adam Webster are all on the road to recovery.

Hyam was sidelined for almost the entirety of 2015 with a serious knee injury and then injured his other knee in a pre-season game at Cambridge United back in July. The Ipswich-born midfielder has not played since then.

“Luke took a blow to the outside of his knee at Cambridge and there was damage to a nerve,” Town physio Matt Byard explained to the club website.

“There was a loss of sensation and muscle control. We hoped it would settle down but just as we started to discuss surgery, Luke improved greatly and we were told he wouldn’t need an operation.

“Unfortunately the symptoms returned again and having seen a specialist, surgery was recommended this time. Luke’s had the operation and we hope that will sort the problem.

“It’s going to be another eight weeks or so before we would expect to see him close to being back on the training field.”

Hyam has been one of several first team players in the treatment room of late, but the injury list has shortened over the international break ahead of Saturday’s Championship trip to Blackburn Rovers.

On-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Jonny Williams, who signed with an ankle injury sustained in pre-season, has featured in two home Under-23 games over the last fortnight – Liverpool last Sunday and Southend on Wednesday – and was rested when Gerard Nash’s men beat Hull City this afternoon 3-1. Ben Morris, Shane McLoughlin and Conor McKendry scored the goals for a team that didn’t include any first-team regulars.

Williams could be part of the squad that travels to Ewood Park at the weekend.

Striker David McGoldrick has been out since August after rupturing ankle ligaments, while centre-back Adam Webster missed the recent games against Brighton and Huddersfield after being forced off with a hamstring injury in the defeat at Leeds. Both players returned to full training this morning.

Young midfielder Adam McDonnell made his injury comeback for a young Under-23 side today, while 17-year-old defender Nathan French, who is on trial from AFC Sudbury, came on as a late sub.

There was, however, no Jordan Spence – the versatile defender, a free agent following his release by MK Dons this summer, having played in the previous two games. The 26-year-old has been linked with Bolton.

Luke Varney, Teddy Bishop and Conor Grant all got some valuable match action in the behind-closed-doors game against Southend last Wednesday.

That just leaves Tommy Smith (back) and Brett Pitman (Achilles), along with Hyam, as medium-term absentees.