Paul Pogba is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery and is hopeful of playing for Juventus next month as he looks to bolster his chances of making France's World Cup squad, according to reports.
The 29-year-old has been out of action since late July, and after initially trying to avoid surgery, he had an operation earlier this month.
He was not expected to return until November, a matter of days before the World Cup in Qatar gets underway, but he now wants to get back for Juventus' Champions League match against Benfica on October 25, as reported by Tuttosport.
Pogba has largely been working in the swimming pool and gym during the early stages of his rehabilitation, but is expected to move to on-pitch exercises shortly.
It is understood that the next 10 days will be crucial in determining whether the midfielder can realistically meet his target of playing in October.
The game against Benfica could potentially be a crucial one as Juventus look to somehow get into the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
The Old Lady have lost their opening two group games, leaving them six points adrift of PSG and Benfica, but wins in their double-header against Maccabi Haifa could set up a mouthwatering clash with the Portuguese side.
Meanwhile, Pogba's World Cup hopes looked to be hanging by a thread when he first picked up the serious injury, and Didier Deschamps recently claimed that he would not include the former Manchester United star in his squad if he was not fully fit.
'He will not come just because he is a "framework", Deschamps told reporters.
'If he has not played before and is not in top form, it is useless. He himself does not want it.'
Pogba may now get an extra couple of weeks to prove his fitness which could be enough to book his ticket on the plane as Les Bleus look to defend their crown after beating Croatia in the final four years ago.