Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed Leroy Sane has taken a step forward in his recovery from injury.
The German international has not played any part of this season after picking up a serious knee injury in the Community Shield win against Liverpool at Wembley.
Sane's injury wasn't as bad as first feared as it was confirmed he had suffered partial damage to his anterior cruciate ligament rather than a full tear, which would have ended his season before it had even begun and the winger confirmed he was back on the pitch with an Instagram post on Monday.
And Guardiola gave a further update in his press conference ahead of facing Oxford in the Carabao Cup.
"It’s the next step to get to the pitch and the next round will be to start training with us and be part of the training session. A full training session is incredibly good news for him and for all of us. This is good," Guardiola said.
Sane posted his own update on his social media on Monday when he published a picture on his Instagram story of him wearing football boots with the caption: "First pitch session done!"
Sane and defender Aymeric Laporte are City's two long term absentees with both targeting returns in the new year while Sergio Aguero has missed the last few games with a muscle injury.
The forward was pictured back in training ahead of City's trip to Oxford in the Carabao Cup quarter finals on Wednesday.
