Aston Villa manager David O'Leary is optimistic that Kevin Phillips and Aaron Hughes will play a role in Sunday's Second City derby against Birmingham City.
But he has ruled out Gavin McCann, despite the midfielder taking part in a behind-closed doors practice match against Notts County yesterday, while an Achilles injury has made Milan Baros a doubt for two vital games for club and country.
The Czech Republic striker is likely to miss his country's final World Cup qualifier away to Finland, which would immediately make him a doubt for Sunday's contest at St Andrew's.
Villa head into the crucial fixture against Birmingham on the back of their worstever start to a Premiership campaign and injury problems cutting deep into the core of O'Leary's squad.
Lee Hendrie is a non-starter after his cartilage operation while Mark Delaney is also a doubt due to illness, despite appearing for Wales against Northern Ireland on Saturday.
O'Leary also faces an anxious wait until after tonight's internationals to see if Juan Pablo Angel, Olof Mellberg and Steven Davis return unscathed.
But the Villa manager was given a glimmer of light after witnessing Phillips' performance at Bodymoor Heath yesterday morning.
"It was a very low-key practice match and all the lads came through it, but they have only played for 60 minutes," said O'Leary.
"I think it will be too early for some of them because even in a low-key practice match you could see they still need a lot more.
"But at least they are back out fit ready to start training again, so they are progressing.
"Kevin Phillips and Aaron Hughes both have an outside chance of playing and I could see those taking some part in the game.
"But I really don't think Gavin McCann has any chance. I would happily rush him back, not just because it's Birmingham, but I'd rush them all back to get the balance of the team right. I just can't see it happening.
"I hope to have them all available for the following week's fixtures against Wigan and Burnley."
The Villa manager is keen to use Phillips sparingly on Sunday after his calf injury but he should feature as a substitute.
"It will be good to have him at St Andrew's before playing him in a reserve game at Leeds next Wednesday and then, fingers crossed, he will be back permanently," said O'Leary.
But he will be disappointed that his midfield enforcer McCann won't be involved in the equation at Birmingham. McCann has returned to the fold far quicker than expected after his knee operation and Villa, currently languishing in the bottom five of the Premiership, will be a stronger outfit when he returns.
"We have to get all our injured players back soon and we will be better for it," said O'Leary.
"I think Steven Davis and McCann are a good partnership and the sooner we get back to that the better.
"I am desperate to get my team out that I know I want to play. When that happens we will be fine but we can't afford to have as many out as we have got now.
"The Middlesbrough game was a joke game as it was so disappointing but we had too many players out that we can't afford to be without."
If Baros is sidelined then Angel will come into the equation despite a gruelling trip to Paraguay for Colombia's World Cup qualifiers.
O'Leary has usually accommodated Angel on the bench after particularly arduous trips abroad but he may be forced into starting him against Birmingham.
"Depending on what happens with Milan, I may have to play Juan," said O'Leary. "He doesn't land back in England until Friday night, so I have know way of knowing what he wil be like.
"Because of where he's travelling from he can't leave his airport until Thursday afternoon, which means we won't see him in training until Saturday."
