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"He is probably a week away from full training and then it will be about getting some reserve team football under his belt because he has been out for a long time.
"If all goes well, he could be back playing for the first team by the middle of February."
The news isn't so bright regarding Sam's strike partner Nicky Forster though. The former Reading frontman has been struggling with a knee injury for some time now and Williams said it is not improving as they had hoped: "It's still sore when he sprints and we will have to take him back to the specialist for another look.
"It's been four weeks now and he's been 80 per cent but no more. It could be that the specialist will want to have a closer look under surgery."
With Forster struggling and Parkin still on the sidelines for now, it is a big chance for Adam Proudlock to stake a future for himself at the club.
Proudlock was sacked by Sheffield Wednesday earlier this season which resulted in a loan move to Portman Road, he signed on a free transfer earlier in the month but has been hampered by a knee injury of late.