West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson is confident that crocked duo Chris Brunt and Zoltan Gera will be back ahead of time.
Club captain Brunt had ankle surgery in early January and was expected to be sidelined until mid-March whilst Hungarian midfielder Gera was supposed to be out until the end of the season with a knee injury but Hodgson has high hopes for the pair after pondering a move for Zenit St Petersburg's Szabolcs Huszti.
"He fitted the sort of profile we were looking for because we've lost two important players in Gera and Brunt.
"But on the other hand we've got to be careful because even Zoltan will return before the end of the season and I'm hoping Brunt might not be out for that much longer.
"I was a bit wary about bringing someone who suddenly might find himself out before he even gets into it (the side).
"Zoltan is determined to be back before the end of the season.
"He's telling me he won't be long now, although the doctors might be more cautious and pour (cold) water over that enthusiasm.""Huszti is something we will have to look at for the future. He would have been the right type of player," Hodgson admitted.
