Ilkay Gundogan has been cleared of serious injury following tests on his left knee and could return for Manchester City to face Chelsea.
The midfielder, on his first start of 2017 following surgery on a serious knee injury, was forced off during City's League Cup victory over West Brom.
Gundogan was examined by club medical staff on Thursday and no significant damage was revealed with a diagnosis of a sprain.
A report on the club's website read: "It is too early at this stage to give an exact time-frame on his absence but he is expected to be back on the training field in the coming days."
The player himself tweeted: "Hi all, thank you for all your messages! I'm happy to tell you my injury is nothing serious and I hope to be back soon on the pitch!"
Gundogan will probably not be available for Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace, or even Tuesday's Champions League visit of Shakhtar Donetsk, but the September 30 trip to Chelsea could be a realistic comeback target.
Manager Pep Guardiola had said after the game that he did not think the problem would be serious.
Gundogan, who had returned to action as a substitute in the 6-0 win at Watford last weekend, was hurt in a challenge from Claudio Yacob.
"I think it's not serious, it's not eight months, but a little injury," Guardiola said. "Unfortunately the action is tough. He will be back soon, hopefully."
Additional reporting by Press Association.
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