Martin Dubravka has returned to light training as the Newcastle United goalkeeper steps up his recovery from a foot injury.
Dubravka under went an operation last summer after suffering the injury while on international duty with Slovakia at Euro 2020.
Dubravka already had experience of recovering from a similar injury, which he sustained before the start of last season, but the 32-year-old suffered a further setback this time around after his surgical wound became infected.
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Steve Bruce, as a result, initially feared that Dubravka could be out until the final week of October, but the Newcastle head coach delivered a more optimistic prognosis last week.
Bruce said that Dubravka was 'coming along nicely' and revealed the shot-stopper hoped to be 'back on the grass' this week after 'the wound that was badly infected' healed up.
That prediction was sound. Dubravka went through a series of drills with rehabilitation fitness coach Cristian Fernandez at the training ground on Tuesday and even got the chance to dive around the goalmouth again as shots were fired at him.
Dubravka will still be a while away from returning to action, but this was a significant step in his rehabilitation ahead of working with goalkeeping coach Simon Smith again and training with the team as a whole.
Karl Darlow, who Dubravka watched return to action against Leeds on Friday night, is expected to keep his place in goal in the coming weeks after putting his COVID issues behind him.
Freddie Woodman missed the 1-1 draw at St James' Park after suffering an injury while diving in training last Wednesday, but the goalkeeper has vowed he will be 'back soon' after posing a shot video from the gym on Instagram.
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