Sergio Aguero and Joe Hart could be fit to make their Manchester City comebacks against Stoke on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Hart is recovering quicker than expected from the hamstring strain he sustained in the 1-0 defeat to Juventus.
And striker Aguero, who came off with an ankle injury in Saturday's 3-1 win over Southampton, may only have to sit out one game.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini had good news about both after his side moved into the last four of the Capital One Cup by beating Hull 4-1 and is confident his goalkeeper will either return at the Britannia Stadium or against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League next week.
He said in a news conference: "Joe Hart can be fit, I am not sure for Saturday, [but] if not for Tuesday. Kun [Aguero] has a pain in his heel. He is improving. We will see tomorrow [Wednesday] or Thursday if he can play on Saturday."
City will assess right winger Jesus Navas, who came off against Hull, as they wait to discover if the World Cup winner faces a spell on the sidelines.
"Jesus has a problem in his ankle," Pellegrini added. "We will see tomorrow."
Midfielder Fernando missed the Hull game, but Pellegrini is optimistic he will be available to face Mark Hughes' side.
Captain Vincent Kompany, however, may not return until the clash with Swansea on Dec. 12.
City moved into the semifinals of the COC for the second time in three seasons under Pellegrini with goals from Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho plus a late brace from Kevin De Bruyne.
But the Chilean was particularly pleased to see David Silva, who skippered City, start for the first time in 11 matches after his recovery from an ankle problem.
"It was very important for David," he added. "The most important thing was to qualify for the semifinal but after that it was important for David to have 80 minutes after a long injury. It was important for Bony to have 65 minutes after a muscle injury and for Kelechi, a young player, to score."