The City keeper, who has been plagued by injury problems since March 2002, could play next Tuesday against Liverpool but they have asked for the fixture to be put back to Thursday due to their Champions League involvement.
Whenever Weaver gets back in action though, he is likely to have to go out on loan before being considered for a first-team recall, in order to boost his match fitness.
"They want to play it on the Thursday but I don't as we have a game on the Saturday," Kevin Keegan told the City website.
"That is the game we have earmarked as the one we want Nicky to come back in as he is ready now. His spirits are good. He has been a real breath of fresh air around the place and he has worked very hard.
"I wouldn't be bothered if the match becomes an Academy game I will still put him in goals," he added.
"While the first few reserve games will be okay for him I wouldn't consider them right to give him a good run. So if it suits us and another club we could loan him out for a month."
Weaver's return could provide a timely boost for Keegan with decisions yet to be made on the City futures of Ronald Waterreus and Kevin Ellegaard (whose contract is up next summer), while Geert De Vlieger is expected to be back available no earlier than February.
"I think until Nicky Weaver gets a few games under his belt and Ronald Waterreus comes back to let us know if he is staying beyond the New Year then we have got to leave the situation as it is," said the City manager.
"We need to know too when Geert De Vlieger will be back as well as he has had a slight setback. For the moment we have to keep the five keepers here and then later we can decide what we will do.
"Kevin Ellegaard's agent has been talking to me about my thinking but I have told him it will be Christmas before I know what we will be doing. It may be that we put him out on loan."