Dundee United striker Francisco Sandaza could make his first appearance of the season in Sunday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Hearts.
The Spaniard has not played since undergoing summer hernia surgery and is likely to be given some role coming off the bench.
Andy Webster is also fit after going off at half-time of Scotland's win over Czech Republic on Wednesday, Keith Watson is back from a loan spell at East Fife, while Lee Wilkie (knee), Danny Cadamarteri (calf) and Scott Robertson (groin) are all long-term absentees.
United face a Jambos side reinvigorated by the return of Jim Jefferies to Tynecastle and the veteran manager has secured enough good results for them to believe they can still challenge for third place.
And boss Peter Houston, who worked with the Hearts boss during his first spell in charge of the club, predicts an open encounter.
He said: "Hearts are desperate to catch up with us, Hibs and Motherwell ahead of them.
"Jim will have them well organised and up for it so it's going to be difficult.
"Since I came to the club, the games we've had against them have been very tight and there have not been many draws.
"So both teams will be going all out to win, that's for sure."
Hearts could be without as many as 15 first-team squad members.
Eggert Jonsson and Laryea Kingston are both suspended after the latter lost his appeal against his sending off at Aberdeen.
Ismael Bouzid is back and Suso Santana (thigh) could return but Dawid Kucharski (groin) is extremely doubtful, Christian Nade is subject to internal disciplinary proceedings, while Marius Zaliukas (hamstring), Marian Kello (hand), Ian Black, Jose Goncalves, Andrew Driver, Ruben Palazuelos, Scott Robinson, Craig Thomson, Johnny Stewart (all knee) and Jamie MacDonald (ankle) are all out.
Calum Elliot is enjoying working under Jeffries but refused to criticise the methods of former boss Csaba Laszlo.
"The training's been different," he said.
"The staff are different as well and they've come in and made a difference, too.
"It's been good but the manager last year was good as well.
"The new manager's come in and just adapted his style to the team. Hopefully in the next few weeks we'll be able to carry on by winning more games."
And Elliot is hoping to stick around for the second Jefferies Jambos revolution.
"I've got two years left on my contract and Hearts are a massive club," he added.
"The way the manager's speaking, he wants to try to take them as high as he can and that's something I think everybody here wants to be a part of.
