Cape Town - Leroy Sane made progress in his recovery from long-term injury as he returned to Manchester City's first-team training on Monday.
Germany international Sane has been sidelined since suffering knee ligament damage during the first half of City's Community Shield triumph over Liverpool in August, meaning he has not made a competitive appearance for the club since last season's FA Cup final victory over Watford.
The 23-year-old's fitness issues started what has been an injury-ravaged campaign for the Citizens, with defender Aymeric Laporte also suffering a serious knee problem, while the likes of John Stones, Sergio Aguero, Oleksandr Zinchenko, David Silva, Rodri and Gabriel Jesus have all spent time or are currently on the treatment table.
However, the news does now appear to be more positive on the injury front, with Sane taking to social media on Monday to confirm his return to training.
City boss Pep Guardiola has previously stated that he expected Sane to return to competitive action in the new year and that timescale would appear to fit, provided the former Schalke player does not suffer any setbacks.
Sane was heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich during the summer before his injury appeared to scupper any potential transfer.
The Bavarians could now renew their interest in the winger, with his return to action seemingly imminent.
City will want to keep hold of the 2017-18 PFA Young Player of the Year, who has scored 25 goals and provided 28 assists in just 89 Premier League appearances since arriving at the Etihad Stadium in 2016.
Sane's return could also prove timely for City, who are looking to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool, while they are also set to face Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League early next year.
- TeamTalk Media