Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish is desperate to return to action against Newcastle United.
The in-form England international has missed Dean Smith's side last four matches due to a lower-leg injury.
Grealish was in the stands alongside Matty Cash to watch Villa's goalless draw with Wolves on Saturday.
The 25-year-old teased his return on social media with an hourglass emoji in the caption of his Instagram post on Sunday.
Smith has since revealed a light-hearted exchange in the warm-up ahead of the clash with Wolves, where the Villa boss joked his captain would not be a guaranteed starter upon his return.
Smith told BirminghamLive : "He was close. He was running on the AlterG (anti-gravity treadmill) on Thursday and Friday.
"Hopefully, we can get him on the grass this week. I saw him before the game and he said to me if he gets on the grass he's playing.
"But I said to him, 'I've got to pick you first!' which he also laughed at as well..."
Villa were locked in a desperate fight for Premier League survival on their last visit to St James' Park, but currently sit ninth following an impressive campaign to date.
In contrast, Steve Bruce's side go into the Friday night clash on a dreadful run of just two wins in their last 18 matches in all competitions.
Newcastle's cushion over the relegation zone now stands at just one point, and the Magpies are now considered the bookmakers' favourites alongside Sheffield United and West Brom to drop into the Championship.
