Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon looks certain to return to first team action as early as next month.
An ankle injury has kept Gordon out for much of the season and Black Cats manager Ricky Sbragia is keen to get the club's number one custodian back on the pitch.
"If I get him back before the middle of February, I'll be over the moon, but he'll need some practice. He's played something like one game in the last 15 weeks or so, so it is inevitable he's going to be rusty," explained the Sunderland boss.
Gordon was also excited about the prospect of a return and is jumping out of his skin to regain full fitness.
"It'll take a week or so for me to get back to full speed. The physios will chart my progress over the next few days, keep an eye on me to make sure I'm not going too fast," Gordon said in The Shields Gazette.