Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell could make his first appearance of the season in Monday’s game against Stoke.
Sidwell has been sidelined since suffering an Achilles injury during a pre-season friendly.
However, he completed the full 90 minutes of a reserve team game against Blackpool this week and is now hoping to be in the reckoning for the trip to the Britannia Stadium.
Sidwell told the Birmingham Mail: “This was the first one back and I’ll just knuckle down in training and see where it goes.
“I had it in my mind before the game that I was going to do as much as I can and try the full 90 minutes and I felt fine.
“It took me a while to get into the game obviously, having had a few weeks out, but as it went on, the stronger I felt.
“I am the world’s worst at watching games. Watching games as a footballer, you just want to be out there.
“There have been a few games that I have missed, a few highs and lows, but I just want to get back out there.”