Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema has been spotted training on the grass for the first time since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament [ACL].
Miedema sustained the injury during Arsenal's Champions League clash with Lyon in December and consequently will miss out on the chance to represent her native Netherlands at this summer's Women's World Cup. Last month, the 26-year-old reached a major milestone in her recovery as she was able to resume running on a treadmill.
And now she appears to have taken another major step forward by returning to training outside. Miedema's teammate and partner, Beth Mead, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a video of the striker out on the grass, alongside the caption: "Today is a good day. Very proud of you Vivi."
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Mead is also set to miss out on a place at the World Cup, with the England forward having ruptured her own ACL last November. Two other Arsenal teammates, Lionesses captain Leah Williamson and defender Laura Wienroither, also suffered the same injury last term.
Reflecting on her recovery in her column for the Dutch newspaper, AD, on Thursday, Miedema said: "Today is a great day. I get to train on the grass for the first time after months in the gym.
"It's a moment you look forward to during such a long recovery period. Something that has been so normal in recent years suddenly becomes special.
"Many people ask me, "How does it feel to miss the World Cup?" I don't have a definitive answer yet. When I see those girls starting their preparations now, it does hurt a bit, of course. But at the same time, it also serves as motivation to keep fighting during my recovery."
