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."
Veteran striker Cresswell, who started out as a trainee at York 15 years ago, returned to Bootham Crescent on loan from Sheffield United last month, but his parent club have the option of recalling him after Saturday's game at Northampton.
Worthington said: "Cressy is definitely with us for the trip to Northampton on Saturday and we're hopeful he'll still be here for the Southend game.
"Unless we hear otherwise from Sheffield United, that should be the case."
Cresswell, 35, has started in all four of the Minstermen's games since returning to boost their npower Football League survival hopes.
