TOMMY Smith is set to make a full recovery after having a successful operation on his broken ankle.

Elvin King

TOMMY Smith is set to make a full recovery after having a successful operation on his broken ankle.

The 18-year-old defender suffered his injury when he fell awkwardly in a training session two weeks ago and he is expected to be on crutches for the next eight weeks.

He is still hoping to be back in action before the end of the season, but it could well be the 2009/10 campaign before he is back playing again.

There was nobody near Smith when he came down on his ankle, and the injury was left a week for the swelling to go down before the left-footed youngster went under the knife.

A Town spokesman said: “Tommy has come through the operation fine, and there were no problems. He is well on course to make a full recovery.”

Smith broke into the Ipswich first team at the start of the season when he made his debut in the opening day 2-1 home defeat against Preston North End.

A big future is predicted for him although he will have to wait until next term before he will make an impact on the Ipswich scene.