Liam Delap could make his Chelsea return ahead of schedule in next week's League Cup meeting with Wolves, manager Enzo Maresca said on Friday.
The striker was not expected to be back in action until November or even December after sustaining a hamstring injury in August, but that schedule has been revised.
Delap, 22, has played just three Premier League games for Chelsea since signing for the club from Ipswich in June in a 30 million 40 million deal and is yet to score a top-flight goal.
"Liam took part in the session yesterday with the team for the first time," said Maresca, whose team host Sunderland on Saturday.
"He's not going to be available for tomorrow's game but probably for the next one.
"The schedule can change a little bit it depends how they improve or get worse. First time they said he could be available for October 25 but today is October 24. Next week he can be available."