Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is close to making a return after taking part in a training match, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Belgium international has not played since limping out of the Champions League semifinal defeat to Real Madrid with a thigh injury that forced him to miss the European Championship in the summer.
Kompany is reported to have come through a 50-minute behind closed doors match without suffering any setbacks.
Summer signings Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan, who have not yet featured for City this season, also played in the training game and could be considered for next weekend's Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will also be in contention to make his debut against United after joining from Barcelona in the final week of the transfer window.
The return of Kompany will be a huge boost to City boss Pep Guardiola who allowed centre-halves Eliaquim Mangala and Jason Denayer to leave on loan on deadline day.
Guardiola only has new £47.5m signing John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi has recognised central defenders although Aleksandar Kolarov has impressed deputising in the role, while the Catalan coach says midfielder Fernandinho can also play there.
The City boss has insisted that Kompany must not be rushed back into the team after a series of muscle injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons
Last season, the 30-year-old suffered five different injuries, and started just 20 games for City.
"What happened with Vincent Kompany the last two years -- it was so difficult for him and the team," Guardiola said in preseason.
"The important thing is not when he's coming back, it's to be fit and ready to show he can play one week and one week more, that he can play regularly -- especially that he can train every day. Then we will see again the best Vincent Kompany."