The frustratingly injury-prone defender will have missed ten games by the time he makes his comeback and his return will be most welcome.
However, Woodgate’s absence hasn’t really been the anticipated disaster as we have lost just once without him so far and Andy O’Brien and Titus Bramble have been among the team’s best performers.
There is no doubt that the former Leeds man will go straight back into the team when fit, but it will mean that Sir Bobby has to make a tricky decision about who to leave out.