Birmingham striker Clinton Morrison is on target to return to action sooner than expected in the home match with Everton on November 13.
The Republic of Ireland international was expected to be sidelined for at least a month after requiring an operation on a knee injury sustained in the World Cup qualifier with France in Paris.
Morrison is set to return to full training on Monday with a view to being available against David Moyes' side.
It is a timely boost for Birmingham manager Steve Bruce as he currently only has two fit strikers at his disposal in Dwight Yorke and Emile Heskey.
Blues' inability to find the net - they have scored just seven goals in 11 games - has been the main reason for their poor start to the season after the long-term absence of Mikael Forssell with a knee problem.
Bruce said: "Clinton is training. He has made an unbelievable recovery. He is running just two weeks after a cartilage operation."
