Fabian Schar has started running on an anti-gravity treadmill as the Newcastle United defender steps up his recovery from a serious knee injury.
The Switzerland international was stretchered off during the Magpies' 3-2 victory against Southampton last month following a nasty collision with Jan Bednarek.
Steve Bruce had made all three of his substitutions so Newcastle ultimately had to finish the game with nine men after Schar, Javier Manquillo and Callum Wilson all picked up injuries and Jeff Hendrick was sent off.
Although Manquillo (ankle) and Wilson (hamstring) did not require surgery, Schar had to go under the knife a few days later after suffering knee ligament damage.
Schar, naturally, was on crutches and forced to wear a knee brace following surgery, but the 29-year-old appears to be making encouraging progress.
Schar took to his Instagram to post a short video of him jogging on an AlterG anti-gravity treadmill on Monday.
These revolutionary treadmills use air to unweight injured athletes so they can run freely and without pain even when they are still weeks away from returning to action.
While Bruce previously stopped short of saying Schar would miss the rest of the campaign, the Newcastle head coach admitted it was 'not going to be far off' that.
However, Schar, himself, vowed to 'try everything to be back on the pitch as soon as possible' and his goal was to be ready for the European Championships this summer.
"Knowing the way Fab is, he will try everything he possibly can to get fit because of the Euros as well of course," Bruce told reporters on February 11.
"He had the operation on Tuesday so it's eight weeks maybe."
