Jordan Willis and Lynden Gooch are both back in light training but are not yet ready to rejoin Sunderland's League One campaign, according to Lee Johnson.
Willis received an injection a month ago to ease an ongoing knee tendon problem, and was expected to be out out of action for around four weeks as a result.
Gooch suffered an ankle injury at the end of November which has ruled him out of the Black Cats' last four games in all competitions.
As a result, new head coach Johnson has yet to work with either player but he said today that they have returned to training at the Academy of Light, although they are not at the stage where they can take part in full sessions and neither will be in contention for tomorrow's trip to Lincoln City.
"I don't think he'll be too far away," Johnson said of Willis.
"He trained today, although his training was restricted a little bit in terms of contact, output and intensity.
"We're drifting him back in as quickly as possible.
"And Lynden Gooch was training with the sports science team, being put through his paces and moving quite well, and it was good to see him out there, even if he wasn't training with us."
Luke O'Nien is expected to be absent until the New Year after dislocating his shoulder against Burton Albion last week.
And Denver Hume will be out for between four and six weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered in last weekend's defeat against Wigan Athletic.
But Johnson says Sunderland came through their midweek EFL Trophy win at Oldham Athletic without any fresh injury worries.
He said: "It was a big plus from the game in midweek to make sure that we came out of it with no new injuries."
