Ipswich Town will be without key full-back Kane Vincent-Young for ‘a few weeks’ after the defender underwent groin surgery.
The former Colchester United man limped out of Town's 3-1 victory at Southend and has spent the Blues' break from action in Doha along with head physio Matt Byard.
Vincent-Young's problem is similar to the one James Norwood has been dealing with recently, with the striker's nerve issue ultimately requiring surgery last month.
Now Vincent-Young has undergone the same procedure, meaning he will be out for a 'few weeks' according to Ipswich boss Paul Lambert.
"He had the same injury, near enough, to James (Norwood) and hopefully it's the same recovery time," the Town boss said. "Hopefully he'll be back in the next few weeks.
"He's been dealing with it and we got him through the games, but Southend was just one game too much.
"He's another lad who has been performing really, really well and he's had it done so hopefully it will put it to bed.
"He hit the ground running but that's the way it goes."
Norwood underwent surgery following the win at Fleetwood at the start of October, sat out the loss at Accrington before returning from the bench in the loss to Rotherham on October 23. He started at Southend a few days later, scoring twice.
A similar recovery time for Vincent-Young could mean tomorrow night's visit to Rochdale is the only league game he misses, given Town have FA Cup (Lincoln) and EFL Trophy (Colchester) games, followed by a scheduled league clash with Oxford on November 16 which is likely to be postponed due to international call-ups. The home game with Blackpool on November 23 is perhaps the earliest Vincent-Young could be expected back.
"James scored two on Saturday so if that's his reaction to the surgery then brilliant," Lambert said.
"I think he looked a lot more free so I was happy with him and his comeback. Hopefully Kane will be the same.
Luke Woolfenden filled in at right-back following Vincent-Young's departure at Roots Hall, while Gwion Edwards has been used as a right wing back already this season.
Janoi Donacien is another option at right-back, although the former Accrington man has not been involved in a league game since the last-gasp victory over AFC Wimbledon in mid-August.
Lambert said: "It's not I sit and think 'he's going to play there'. I'll pick a team I think will be ready for tomorrow and I'll pick the personnel I think can win us the game.
"Woolfy (Woolfenden) did well at right-back but it's not his natural position.
"I'll pick the team I want to pick between today and tomorrow and I'll run with that."
Flynn Downes is suspended for tomorrow night's game having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at Southend, while Cole Skuse left the game in the first half with a groin problem.
"I'll see how he is this morning," Lambert said of Skuse.
"A few of the lads have little knocks but we'll see how they are. Everyone (has been great) for us this season and we're a team where everyone's as important as each other.
"Everyone deserves a huge amount of credit for how they have performed so far so we'll see how everyone is in training and then pick a team."
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