Stoke City assistant Mark Bowen has confirmed that Ryan Shawcross could soon be back in action.
The Potters captain has missed the past three outings with a back complaint for which he has been receiving treatment over the past few weeks.
Bowen suggested that Shawcross' problem is certainly easing but felt that Saturday's trip to Aston Villa may have come too soon.
"It's quite complicated. He's had another injection and they have to hit the right spot going into the disc," Bown told BBC Radio Stoke.
"We're hopeful he will progress over the next 48 hours and it will settle down significantly.
"It won't be enough to put him in the frame to take on Aston Villa but maybe it will be ok for the following week against Hull (City)."
