Assistant coach Dean Austin is hoping midfield maestro Almen Abdi could be fit for Watford's Good Friday visit to promotion rivals Derby County.

Austin said the club are not yet in a position to accurately predict when Abdi will have recovered from the hamstring injury that forced him off on Saturday but is optimistic he may be close to returning in two weeks time.

Abdi was forced off with a hamstring injury at Wolverhampton Wanderers but returned for Saturday's 4-1 win over Reading. The 28-year-old scored the first goal inside 60 seconds at Vicarage Road but had to go off in the seventh minute after injuring the hamstring on his other leg.

Austin said: "It is very difficult at the moment to put a time frame on it. It is a fresh injury and the problem is more the fluid around the injury.

"Once we are able to rid him of that then my understanding is he will be back to work. So we are optimistic that come the Derby game he will not be too far away. Fingers crossed."

The former Udinese midfielder has already been sidelined by a shoulder problem this season but has been hugely influential, making 28 appearances in all competitions and scoring eight times.

However, Austin added: "We have had to deal with Almen being injured this season and the team coped. It is why we have a strong squad."

Defender Craig Cathcart will be available for Saturday's visit from the seventh-placed Tractor Boys, despite being withdrawn after 70 minutes of the 2-0 victory at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday with what appeared to be an injury at the time. Sean Murray is a long-term absentee as he recovers from knee surgery.

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy has several injury concerns ahead of Saturday's showdown. David McGoldrick (thigh), Luke Hyam (knee), Darren Ambrose (hamstring) and Dean Gerken (knocked unconscious at Middlesbrough) are all set to miss the trip to Vicarage Road.

Young midfielder Teddy Bishop, who has enjoyed a stellar breakthrough season at Portman Road, is also set to miss out with sore shins - the onset of shin splints.

The Tractor Boys are currently outside of the play-off places by a point having lost four of their last seven - including their last three on the road - but were 1-0 winners at home to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night.