Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has said that Steven Fletcher could return from injury against Swansea City this weekend.
The Scottish frontman scored on his first Premier League appearance of the season at Crystal Palace before picking up a shoulder injury that initially ruled him out until November.
New Black Cats boss Poyet has now said that the 26-year-old could return earlier that expected.
When asked whether Fletcher would feature at the Liberty Stadium, Poyet told the club's website: "There is a big possibility. It's some of the very good news from this week.
"Every player is important but we know in football that there is a few positions that are key; the goalkeeper, the spine of the team and the main man up front scoring goals.
"We need goals; we need players who have got the ability and Fletcher is one of those players."
Sunderland have picked up just one point from the first seven games of the season and sit rockbottom of the Premier League, already six points from safety.
