TOUGH-TACKLING midfielder Adnan Ahmed looks sure to be ruled out of Town's pre-season trip to Ibiza by a knee problem.

The 21-year-old is suffering from tendinitis and after having a scan, will have treatment and time off the training ground.

It's a big disappointment for the Lancashire-based player, who emerged as a first-team force last season, when he started the final 16 League I matches.

But Jackson, whose squad fly out to the Balearic island on Sunday for two matches and a string of training sessions, insists Ahmed will force his way back into the reckoning as the new campaign, which starts at Nottingham Forest on August 6, approaches.

"Like all the players, Adnan has been following his own routines during the summer and came back in great shape," reported Jackson. who will take 19 of his 25-strong squad to Ibiza.

"His problem could be as a result of the hard ground, and it's something which can simply flare up from time to time.

"Rest and treatment from the physio will sort it out, and given the timescale, it would be silly to take him to Ibiza unless there is a dramatic improvement."

Town players have been back in training since last Thursday, and Jackson, whose side play Coventry on Tuesday and will then play either QPR or an Ibiza XI on Wednesday or next Thursday, is delighted with their work so far.

"The lads came back in good nick and in good spirits," he said.

"Those who had previous injuries, like Jon Worthington and Tony Carss, are looking fine and the three new lads (striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher, midfielder Mark Hudson and centre-back Martin McIntosh) have settled in well."