Ipswich Town top-scorer David McGoldrick’s recovery from a knee injury is ahead of schedule, manager Mick McCarthy revealing that the striker could be fit to take part in the play-offs should the Blues finish in the top six.

McGoldrick – who has 16 goals to his name this season – injured knee ligaments in the latter stages of February’s goalless home draw with Blackpool, with McCarthy saying at the time that the front man would be undergoing surgery and that his season was over.

However, with Town five points adrift of sixth-place Reading heading into their final six matches, McCarthy now says the Blues could receive a timely boost if they were to make the nervy end-of-season fight for the third promotion spot.

Asked how McGoldrick’s recovery was coming on, the Blues boss said: “Brilliantly – he’s been an absolute model professional. He’s doing work before he comes in at David Lloyd, he’s been in working really hard and he’s very focussed on getting himself back. That’s been no moping around, just grafting.

“He’s a couple of weeks in front of what they originally thought – even to the point where he might be fit for the end of the season. If it was play-offs I think he would be.”

– See tomorrow’s EADT and Ipswich Star for Huddersfield v Ipswich match preview.