Downing has not featured for Villa since joining the club in a £12million deal from Middlesbrough during the summer.
The 24-year-old has been out of action since April when he suffered a broken foot when in action for Boro against Villa.
The England winger said: “I’ll hopefully be back training in mid-November and then looking to play within a month of that.
“The specialist has been telling me what to do from day one. I had been doing straight line running because I couldn’t do twisting and turning.
“But I can do a bit of that now as well so fitness-wise it’s just a case of building things up.
“The toughest bit was the first bit when I was on crutches but now the hard work is done and all those long days slogging away in the gym have been worth it.
“Having the pin removed was a big part of my recovery because that would show it (the foot) was fully recovered. Now it is just a case of stepping things up.”
