Midfielder Luke Freeman is expected to return to training with Nottingham Forest on Monday, after seven weeks on the sidelines.
The Sheffield United loanee has not featured for the Reds since the defeat at Barnsley in November, having undergone surgery to correct a hernia problem.
But he is due to get out on the grass with his teammates again in a few days’ time, as he looks to build up his fitness.
“Luke hasn’t trained with the team again yet,” boss Chris Hughton told NottinghamshireLive. “At this moment he’s scheduled to train with us on Monday.
“He’s done some good work with the medical department and rehab, and is feeling good at the moment.
“When you’re on the back of an operation, you’ve come through that and you’re feeling good, it’s a nice feeling.
“We hope that from Monday he can go from strength to strength, and it won’t be too long before he’s available for selection.”
Jack Colback (ankle) remains on the absentee list ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Cardiff City, while fellow midfielder Fouad Bachirou is still troubled by a hamstring problem.
“Jack Colback is the only other one,” Hughton added. “He’ll probably be another three or four weeks before he’s available to play.
“Bachirou has been in and out of training a little bit, but is training.”
Forest did receive an injury boost last weekend, when defender Scott McKenna made the bench against Preston North End.
The summer signing has been out of action since early December, due to an ankle issue, but was an unused substitute for the victory at Deepdale.
And with Hughton considering a few changes to his XI for the weekend’s clash at the City Ground, it could be a chance for McKenna to make his return.
Loic Mbe Soh and Tobias Figueiredo have battled for a place alongside Joe Worrall in the meantime, with the latter just edging ahead in the pecking order after helping the Reds to two clean-sheets in their last three games.
“It’s a nice problem,” Hughton said of his selection dilemma.
“Mbe Soh came in and did well in those games.
“At the moment I’ve got good competition at centre-half - and that’s without Michael Dawson, who hasn’t featured.
“It’s really good to have Scott back. Before the injury, I thought he was one of our most consistent players.”
