West Ham striker Andy Carroll could be back in action by the end of the month after more than six months on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury.
Carroll, 26, has only managed 12 Premier League starts in each of the last two seasons as he battles with fitness problems.
He could attempt his latest comeback against former club Liverpool on Aug. 29 before the Premier League breaks for the next round of European Championship qualifiers.
New Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is eager to get the England international back in his squad, especially with Enner Valencia ruled out for three months with a knee injury of his own.
Carroll told the club's official website: "I'm looking forward to it. It's been a long time since I've been on this pitch, but it's not long to go now and I'm looking forward to being back.
"I've been working hard and I'm nearly back fit so it's all positive. As the gaffer has said, by the end of the month I hope to be back.
"It's the last season at the Boleyn Ground so I'm looking forward to being here and playing here and getting back and getting a few goals here."
Carroll joined Liverpool for £35 million from Newcastle in January 2011 but he failed to make an impression at Anfield, scoring only six goals in 44 Premier League appearances before moving to West Ham, initially on loan, in the summer of 2012.