Mark Robins hopes to have Jonathan Hogg back for Huddersfield Town’s big Boxing Day clash at home to in-form Derby.
The tough midfielder missed a second match with a hip problem as Town held Brighton to a goalless draw on the South coast on Saturday.
But he is due back in training tomorrow, and the boss, who hailed the performance of Hogg’s replacement Oscar Gobern, hopes the ex-Watford man will challenge for a berth.
Robins will also have a choice to make in central defence after Murray Wallace impressed on his first Championship appearance of the season.
Joel Lynch is available after a one-match ban as 13th-placed Town prepare for two John Smith’s Stadium outings in four days (Yeovil visit on Sunday).
“I thought Oscar did well and Murray came in and dealt with everything thrown at him by a very good side,” said Robins.
It was a 10th Town appearance for Wallace, 20, and the boss continued: “He has been chomping at the bit, waiting for an opportunity, and he’s taken it.
“He looked assured on the ball, and he passed it well. His performance was a great fillip for him and myself, and it gives me a nice little selection problem for Thursday.”
Derby climbed to fourth with a 3-1 home win over Doncaster, their seventh in succession, and Robins added: “Fate has handed us games against two in-form sides in Brighton and Derby.
“But we can take confidence from Saturday, because I thought we were good. It was a different type of performance to others we have produced of late.
“We tried to play our passing game, but we also showed that we can do that horrible side of the job when it needs to be done.”
Saturday’s 27,155 tickets-issued crowd, which included 425 Town fans, was the biggest so far this season for a match involving Town.
The John Smith’s club are hoping the Derby gate proves to be their biggest at home this season, beating the 18,309 tickets-issued figure for the 3-2 win over Leeds.
