Watford coach Quique Sanchez Flores has suggested captain Troy Deeney could be back in action before the end of next month.
The club revealed this week that Deeney has stepped up his recovery from knee surgery by working on an anti-gravity treadmill.
The 31-year-old had an operation in August after playing through pain in the first two Premier League games of the season.
Asked when the player might return, Sanchez Flores said: "Maybe between four to five weeks. I guess in two or three weeks he is running again. The medical staff are working really well."
Deeney is not Sanchez Flores' only injury concern as he attempts to turn the Hornets' season around.
Watford are still to win this season and are bottom of the table with just three points from eight games.
Etienne Capoue, Sebastian Prodl and Isaac Success will also miss Saturday's trip to Tottenham.
"We have Capoue, Deeney, Prodl and Success out, but we try to find a good solution," said Sanchez Flores, speaking at a press conference shown on the club's official website.
"This is our mentality. We have others ready to play. We cannot depend on one player. We have lots of players with high quality and skill."
