Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer is hoping to return to Premiership action against Middlesbrough on September 8th.
The 30-year-old frontman has been sidelined since March after undergoing the second of two operations on his damaged knee.
He is currently battling to regain full fitness after being allowed to step up his training, and will fly to Paris for a consultation with Americanspecialist Dr Richard Steadman on August 7th, 12 days before his side kick off their new campaign at Chelsea.
Shearer is desperate to get the go-ahead after seeing last season wrecked by the injury, but having witnessed his Stg£15million man break downonce before after an early return, manager Bobby Robson is refusing to throw him in at the deep end before he is 100% fit.
The problem is not career-threatening although there is understandable concern.
"Alan Shearer is going very well," said Robson. "We've just got to get it right with Shearer.
"He mustn't break down. However long it takes, that's how long it will be. It's make or break for Alan. We know that, he knows that and we can'tpush him into a match when he's not ready.
"We won't do that. I don't care what it costs us, he will not play until he's absolutely ready.
"He's a bit longer term, but in my opinion, he's only a month away. I feel sure that in a month, he'll be playing.
"He's training very well and he's got no bad symptoms, he's got no pain, he's got nothing in his head which is disturbing him about the injury. It'sfull steam ahead.
"He's going to see Steadman on August 7th and he'll just tell him to push on I think. You'll see Alan Shearer doing group work and he'll have a coupleof reserve matches somehow, somewhere, and he'll be ready."
Shearer would like to be fit for the visit of derby rivals Sunderland to St James' Park on August 26th, but that will almost certainly come too soon forhim.
The break for England's World Cup qualifiers means that he would not miss another game before the Magpies head for Middlesbrough on September8th.
PA