Leicester City could have one key figure back from injury soon, but manager Brendan Rodgers says another defender faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
Portuguese right-back Ricardo Pereira has been out since March and required surgery on a knee injury.
Now, though, he is closing in on a return to fitness and told Portuguese outlet O Jogo that he hopes to return to team training in the next two weeks and, all being well, could be ready for competitive action a month later.
“It will depend, but I believe within six weeks,” he said. "As I’ve never been through any of this, I’m not sure of the deadlines, but I believe it will be around this, if all goes well.
“It’s easier now, no doubt. At first it was more complicated, especially post-surgery, because I was in pain, and I was on crutches and needed help with just about everything at home.
"Add to that the fact that we are in quarantine due to the pandemic. Those were very complicated times, but now it’s a lot easier, especially since I started running and doing ball work."
While his return to availability will be welcomed by Rodgers, the boss has explained that centre-back Caglar Soyuncu could be out until well into the new year.
"The muscle is right off the bone, so he could be up to three months, which is an absolute shame for him," the boss said in the lead-up to Leicester’s Europa League game.
Leicester have also been without Wilfred Ndidi recently, also expected to be a three-month absence, while Jamie Vardy missed the weekend defeat to Aston Villa.
The Foxes won their first three league games of the season, including beating Manchester City, but have since suffered back-to-back defeats without scoring.
