Florian Lejeune is eyeing a place in Steve Bruce's squad for the trip to Aston Villa later this month.
The Frenchman did not make the cut for the weekend's 2-1 win over AFC Bournemouth, but only because Bruce did not want to risk him just weeks after coming back from a long-term knee injury.
Lejeune has already something of a dress rehearsal at Villa Park after banking 71 minutes in the 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa's second string last week.
Ideally, Bruce would love to give Lejeune a run out in either practice match or a game behind closed doors, but with skipper Jamaal Lascelles now injured with a fresh knee problem, the former Eibar man comes back into contention.
Bruce said: "Florian Lejeune is good.
"It was a bit too early for this weekend but he's come through the training schedule he's been on and is fine.
"He just needs to get more minutes in him if we possibly can.
"He is back training, he's champing at the bit."
Bruce turned to Paul Dummett when Lascelles picked up an injury and was delighted with what he saw.
He said: "Dummy came on - and you can see his experience – and did very, very well."
