In the 2016–17 season, Abdou appeared three matches, starting all of them, and then scored against West Bromwich Albion U23. After the match, Manager Neil Harris said: "What Jimmy’s got is the ability to make a forward run at the right time. I’m always on at Jim – and I’ve known him a long time – about finishing, finishing, finishing. The way we play and the form we’ve been in over the last 10 months our midfield players should be scoring goals. Jimmy had three really good opportunities last week (against Nottingham Forest) that could have won us the game comfortably, and he didn’t take them. So I’m really pleased that he scored." However, he found himself competing in the midfield position against Shaun Williams, Ben Thompson. This resulted him dropped into the substitute bench for the most of the 2016–17 season and to get playing time, Abdou played for the club's reserve side. Despite this, Abdou made first team starts on several occasions throughout the season. Towards the end of the 2016–17 season, he was the last four starts for the side, including playing in both legs against Scunthorpe United in the League One play-offs and won 3–2 on aggregate. Abdou started in the League One play-off Final, as he helped the side beat Bradford City 1–0 to see the side promoted to the Championship. At the end of the 2016–17 season, Abdou went on to make twenty–two appearances and scoring once for the side. Following this, he signed a one–year contract with the club.