Injured defender, Stephen Hunt is hoping to be back in the first team fold by the beginning October.
The promising young defender was sidelined when he had to undergo an Adductor release operation, after picking up a troublesome groin problem towards the back end of last season.
Hunt mad his last appearance in the vital 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers, before being advised to take a break, with the hope of the injury healing.
It was later revealed that the former Colchester United man required surgery to solve the problem, known as Adductor Tendinopathy.
This is where the small tissues surrounding the Adductor - which acts to bring the thighs inwards - become inflamed or torn, therefore causing discomfort.
Now, nearly four months later, he is back in light training and beginning to step up his comeback.
Speaking to Magpie World, he declared: "We're looking at early October, hopefully.
"That's obviously with no set-backs, but we'll see. Time wise I've got another five or six weeks, so I'm not going to rush, I'm going to make sure I'm 100 percent fit."
In less than three weeks, Gavin Strachan should also be ready for action, following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a niggling hamstring problem.
With Jason Beardsley today extending his loan spell to January, the potential of the squad is beginning to appear, with competition for places generally becoming tougher.