Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits Kevin De Bruyne could be back next week.
De Bruyne has been missing since August due to a hamstring injury.
Ahead of facing Sheffield United, Guardiola said: "Kevin is close, but he had fatigue yesterday and we have to be careful.
"If you don't handle the timings good you can get injured again.
"I'd love for him to play the next game or Huddersfield (in the FA Cup), but what is important is keeping him fit for a long time, not for one game or another."
On Erling Haaland's return from a foot injury, the manager added: "He (Haaland) is training alone and getting better, it's a question of when the pain will disappear.
"He's not a skinny guy like Phil Foden, he's huge and tall so it is more difficult sometimes."