Christian Eriksen could be back in action for Manchester United as early as next weekend.
Midfielder Eriksen has been out since suffering ankle ligament injury in United's 3-1 FA Cup win over Reading on January 28. He was expected to be out until late April, but is back training and could even make the bench for the United's Premier League game at home to Everton a week on Saturday.
"It's going well," said Eriksen. "I've just started being outside, with football boots on. Then we take it from there, that's the next step. I've been in the gym for some weeks now and now it's time to do the next rehab session outside.
"It's weird not being on international duty, you're normally away and now it's more the thing you're following your national team and you're here instead of being with them. That's weird, but it has happened before so you get used to it. But, still, you enjoy it less."
Eriksen's confession is a huge boost for United boss Erik ten Hag, who described him as an "important" player in October. The Denmark international played 31 games in all competitions for the Red Devils before suffering an injury at the end of January.
As quoted by Man Utd's website, Ten Hag said, "As a manager we faced him, so I know his capabilities and I was so happy that we could sign him. I think he proved from the first day how important his is to our game."
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Eriksen missed United's Carabao Cup final win against Newcastle and will be hoping to play in at least one more final before the end of the season. Ten Hag's side take on Brighton in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
United are also aiming to secure a return to the Champions League. They are third in the Premier League but just three points ahead of Newcastle in fifth having played the same amount of games - although they do have two games in hand on Tottenham in fourth.
United's next Premier League game is a big one, as they take on Newcastle at St James' Park on Sunday. If the Magpies win and Tottenham - who have sacked Antonio Conte - beat Everton at Goodison Park on Monday, Ten Hag's side will find drop to fifth.
The Newcastle game is one too soon for Eriksen. Reflecting on his injury, Eriksen, who made a remarkable comeback after suffering a cardiac arrest during the European Championships in June 2021, said he now has a better perspective on such setbacks.
"I think earlier in my career I would have taken it a lot harder than I do now," said Eriksen. "You learn later on that it's just part of your career. Sometimes you're lucky, sometimes you're not. The mindset is just getting back as soon as possible in a healthy, strong way and not to get any setbacks."
