Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has returned to training as he steps up his comeback from a serious knee injury.
The German tore cruciate ligaments in his right knee during City's 2-0 win over Watford last December, leaving the pitch in tears, as he issed the rest of the season as a result.
The injury required surgery and was on the same knee that he dislocated last May, which delayed his City debut until September, following his £20million move to the Etihad last summer.
The former Borussia Dortmund man made 16 appearances for Pep Guardiola's side last year and his team-mates took to the pitch all wearing 'Gundogan 8' shorts ahead of their win over Arsenal following the German's injury.
The 26-year-old's career has been plagued by a series of injuries during his career, missing all but three games in the 2013-14 season with a back injury, subsequently missing out on Germany's World Cup success in Brazil.
But the midfielder was all smiles on his return to training at City's Etihad campus, as he looks to return ahead of schedule following initial fears that he could take 12 months to return to full fitness.
City will now be hoping that Gundogan will be fit enough to join their pre-season tour of the United States this summer.