England goalkeeper Jack Butland has been pencilled in to play his first match for more than 12 months on Monday.
Butland, 24, suffered a stress fracture of the ankle on international duty against Germany in March 2016 and subsequently had to undergo three operations to fix the injury.
Having returned to training with Stoke City he is now due to play for the club's under-23s against Brighton, barring any late mishaps.
The news will be a major boost for both Mark Hughes and England boss Gareth Southgate, who made Butland his captain for the England under-21s and would to see him available for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.