Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier is vowing to return to action “as soon as possible” after stepping up his recovery from a broken metatarsal.
The right-back needed surgery on the injury he sustained in February, which came in just his fifth appearance since a £12million move from Atletico Madrid.
Trippier is with the rest of the Magpies squad at a warm-weather training camp in Dubai during the international break and has recently stopped wearing his protective boot.
The 31-year-old is not putting a date on a return but wants to get back out and help Newcastle’s relegation fight as quickly as he can.
“My recovery is going really well,” he told NUTV. “I am moving a lot better now, my ankle is not as tight anymore, so it has been really good progress since we have been here and I am looking forward to stepping up my recovery.
“I am in a good place, I have been since I got injured. I am happy to be here and doing my rehab with the team and looking forward to coming back quickly.
“I feel like that, I know my body, I know how my body is reacting and up to now everything I have been doing in the rehab room I have had no reaction so that is positive news.
“I would like to be on the pitch as soon as possible but it was a break, so we have to take that into account. When I am feeling right and 100 per cent ready to play the manager will be the first to know.
“I have got to take my time a bit because it was a serious injury and I have to be mindful of that but at the minute I am feeling positive.”