West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster is closing in on a return to action following a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Foster has been out since March and was expected back this month, but suffered a setback which boss Tony Pulis thought would keep him out until around Christmas.
But the England international is due to resume training next week and could be back playing by the end of November, which would boost his hopes of being included in the Euro 2016 squad.
"Ben is hopefully on the grass next week, that's getting closer for us," said Pulis, ahead of Saturday's Premier League visit of Leicester.
"I don't think people have mentioned it as often as they could have, in respect to missing such an influential player - and an influential player in the dressing room as well.
"It's been a little bit of a setback but the lads have coped very well with it."
Pulis has not been surprised deputy Boaz Myhill has kept six clean sheets in 10 Premier League with summer signing Anders Lindegaard also pushing for a starting place.
The former Crystal Palace boss had a similar situation at Selhurst Park with Julian Speroni and Wayne Hennessey vying for a place between the sticks.
Pulis said of Myhill: "He is a very sound lad, he knows the score and the game. It's interesting to see how he has coped with it.
"Anders has been a good back up and that helps. The year before I was at Crystal Palace and we had Speroni. We bought Hennessey in and Speroni went up another level.
"Bo has done exceptionally well. One person doesn't keep clean sheets, it's got to be the whole team.
"That's very important people recognise it. It's not the centre-backs, it's everyone together as one unit. It's a tough season."