The Republic of Ireland striker is resigned to being sidelined for at least another month with the knee injury suffered on international duty a fortnight ago.
That will rule Doyle out until the penultimate weekend of the domestic campaign and, having had no action for so long, means he is unlikely to be risked.
Doyle told Press Association Sport: "We are probably looking at six weeks out from when I did it - at least. It is not going to be the four weeks which was the most optimistic forecast initially. That's pretty certain. We can't try any harder to get it right. We are doing everything anyway. It is going to take however long it takes.
"But there is no point in me trying to come back early and injuring myself again. I'm still aiming to come back before the end of the season but it's going to be close."
Doyle added: "I can't do a lot at present. The knee is still sore. I'm not out jogging or anything like that so it will be another week or two. It's in a brace. I'm trying to do bits to keep it moving and stuff. I'm in the pool and I can do some easy stuff on it. But I won't be running for a week or two."
Source: PA
Source: PA