Chelsea hope manager Emma Hayes can return to the touchline for the London derby with Tottenham later this month.
The 46-year-old has been away from matchday duties since the middle of last month to recover from a hysterectomy. She now hopes to return from temporary leave on November 20.
But following Chelsea's emphatic 3-1 Women's Super League win at Manchester United on Sunday evening, general manager Paul Green believes she is closing in on a comeback.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Green, who has overseen first-team affairs alongside Hayes' assistant Denise Reddy, said: "We go into the international break hopefully ready to welcome Emma Hayes back to the touchline for our next game, if everything goes well, against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge."
The development will come as a major boost to Chelsea following a superb win which propelled them level on points with leaders Arsenal.
Following the victory, Hayes tweeted: "Watching games at home with intermittent internet. I can't cope.
"I'm so ready to go back to work but what a team, staff, players and fans we have. Everyone has been amazing. So so proud. And I can't do this home watching for much longer."
The hosts headed into the fixture with five wins from as many matches, but Sam Kerr, former United forward Lauren James and Erin Cuthbert all found the target in a rousing second-half display.
