Fabrice Muamba could join his Bolton Wanderers teammates for training before the end of the season.
The People says Muamba has made such astonishing progress since his cardiac arrest three weeks ago that the specialists are poised to give him a date when he can return.
The top people at the London Chest Hospital have informed Bolton that Muamba would be ready to start back at work "by the end of the month".
As one amazed source said: "Fabrice has ripped up the medical rule book all the way through here. But this news tops the lot."