Mark Beesley could be passed fit for a return to first team action on Saturday at York City.
The striker has missed the last three games since limping off with a knee injury against Torquay on 13th September, but he told cambridgeunited.com that he hopes to make an earlier than anticipated return.
"I trained on Tuesday for the first time and if it's OK after tomorrow's training session then I may be available for the weekend," he confirmed.
"It's not 100% but it's one of those injuries where I won't be pain-free for a while so I've just got to get through the initial bit and see how it goes. But they said at first that I could be out for a month so if I'm back at the weekend it will be three weeks, and I'll be happy with that.
"I twisted my medial ligament in my knee but fortunately it doesn't seem as though it's too bad," he added. "Greg (Reid, physio) is good and I've been getting treatment on it every day, and it's getting better all the time."
Beesley had scored twice against Wrexham in the game before his injury, taking his goal tally to three for the season, and he admitted it has been hard to sit on the sidelines and watch two defeats and a draw until last Sunday's late win against Grays ended the win-less run.
"We had a very good start to the season; we started off really well and we deserved those four wins, then we've had a bit of indifferent form lately but Sunday was a big win for us and it pushes us right back in the play-off mix.
"With two home games coming up in the space of a week it's important that we try and take points at home, and if we manage to get them you never know where we could be," said 26-year-old Beesley.
"It's always frustrating to have to sit and watch, whether you're playing well or not, and to be injured is the most frustrating thing. No one likes just watching and it's the same for all the lads who are injured - you struggle watching games.
"You can't do anything when you're sitting in the stands and it's frustrating. You're itching for the team to do well and win games and it's horrible to have to sit and watch."
Whilst he would love the opportunity to pick up where he left off, Mark knows he may have to be patient: "First and foremost I want to make sure my injury is right, " he warned.
"Then I just want a chance to get back in the team and try and stay in, because competition for places up front is very strong so it's important that if you get a chance in the team you try to take it and stay in."
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