Manchester City have received a major boost as midfield maestro Rodri has returned to full training following a long-term knee injury.

The 28-year-old Spaniard — widely regarded as one of the world’s best midfielders and a recent Ballon d'Or winner — had been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury during City’s clash with Arsenal in September.

Initial forecasts suggested Rodri would not be back until the 2025/26 season. However, his recovery has progressed faster than expected, and Sky Sports reports that Wednesday’s session was not his first with the full squad.

Manchester City have yet to set an official return date, but the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in June now looks like a realistic target for his comeback.

In a further boost, star striker Erling Haaland, the club’s top scorer, has also resumed training with the team.