Owen Hargreaves is in line to make his Manchester City debut against Aston Villa after the international break.
Roberto Mancini is putting him through an intensive fitness programme and has pencilled him in for City's first match after the international break at home to Villa on Saturday week.
City coach David Platt claims the England midfielder is training well after his three-year injury hell at Manchester United.
"He's in good shape," said Platt. "When the boys get back from the international break, Owen should be there or thereabouts with his own full pre-season under him."