Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that Matija Nastasic will return to training next week after responding quickly to treatment on an ankle problem.
Nastasic was expected to be out for around four to six weeks after suffering the injury in Hong Kong last month during City's Barclays Asia Trophy win over Sunderland.
Pellegrini confirmed that he expects the central defender to rejoin full training after their Premier League opener against Newcastle United on Monday night.
He told reporters at a pre-match press conference: "He is not ready for the next match but next week he will work normally with the whole squad."
The 20-year-old played 25 times for City last season in his debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium.