Anthony Wordsworth is targeting a first-team return for Ipswich before the end of the season after making his comeback from injury for the club's development squad on Monday.
The midfielder, a January signing from neighbours Colchester, cracked three vertebrae in only his third appearance for Town in mid-February's 1-0 win over Blackpool.
But after seven weeks on the sidelines Wordsworth returned to play 90 minutes for the development side in a 3-2 defeat to Charlton at Portman Road.
"It was good to be out there and it was the first 90 minutes I've played since the start of January," he told the club's official website.
"It's been just over 12 weeks since I last played a full 90 so that was the most important thing for me, to get through the whole game.
"The main thing for me now is to try and get back into the first team. There aren't too many fixtures left, but I'm hoping I can get some games under my belt before the end of the season and play my part in the run-in."
