Burgess (calf) and Seip (hamstring) are aiming for a return to action in the December 28 home clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Clarke has a knee problem and it is difficult to predict exactly when he'll be back. But it shouldn't be more than a month, meaning he will return early in the new year.

"It is much shorter than we thought," said Ian Holloway.

"I was thinking four to six weeks but it is more like three to four weeks for all three of them. That is fantastic news, not just for me but for them because no one wants to be injured.

"It means Marcel – whose loan spell runs out at the start of January – might have a chance of playing for us again.

"He is responding really well to what we're doing with him and he might well be available again before he goes back to Plymouth ... because I'm sure he doesn't want that to happen."

As for Edwards, he needed eight stitchesafter sustaining a deep cut to his eyebrow at Middlesbrough.

And Holloway admitted he hasn't decided whether or not to pick him at Ipswich.

"The cut is in an awkward spot because it's over the eye and if you're a centre half you need to head the ball a lot," said the boss.

"It needs five and ten days to actually knit together properly. Is Saturday too early? I don't know. I'm sure he'll tell me he is fine but I'll have to have a look at it."

Danny Coid is likely to be on the bench – if Edwards doesn't make it – for what would be his first call up since fracturing his shinbone in the pre-season.

"He's had a long term injury but from what I've seen in training he looks quite good," added Holloway.

"I would prefer some games for him but if we run out of bodies then unfortunately they might have to be first team games.

"So Coidy might get a chance a bit earlier than he thought and let's see how he responds to that."