Fabio Borini is set to make his long-awaited return from injury in December.
The Italian has been sidelined since August after picking up a groin injury in Sunderland's 1-1 draw at Southampton, but David Moyes has revealed the striker is on the road to recovery.
Seb Larsson and Jan Kirchhoff are also nearing a first-team return having played – and scored – on Monday evening as the club’s under-23s defeated Manchester United.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Liverpool, Moyes provided the latest from the treatment room.
“Fabio is doing better,” said the Scotsman. "He has not joined training but he is doing a bit of running, cycling and keeping himself fit.
"He will need a couple of weeks training to get the football training into him. He is a naturally fit lad anyway.”
He continued: "I am not seeing him out on the training ground every day, the odd run here and there but not a regular at the moment.
"I think he will be back shortly but I couldn't put an exact timescale on it, with a bit of luck he might only be two to three weeks away.
“I don’t think Seb and Jan are ready, but I think they are near to returning.”
