Matt Ritchie has made what Steve Bruce has described as a "remarkable" recovery from a horror challenge with Hamza Choudhury last month.
The Scotland international winger was initially ruled out for two months after the tackle left him in "a mess" according to Bruce after the League Cup tie at St James' Park.
But since then Ritchie has not only returned to training early, he is also in contention o return THIS month - and could even find himself on the pitch with Choudbury for the clash at the Kingpower Stadium.
Bruce said: "Matt Ritchie has been quite remarkable in his recovery.
"He has shocked us all.
"But the way he trained yesterday and the day before, as long as he doesn't have any reaction, he is not far away.
"It still could be a couple of weeks."
But the news is not so positive for Dwight Gayle who has now been withdrawn from training.
Gayle has been told to rest the calf injury he picked up originally in China back in July.
Bruce said: "We are hoping that two weeks of rest will help."
