Jack Grealish has offered Manchester City and England fans a ray of hope by posting a splurge of focused-looking injury rehab photos.
The star was on the bench for City's 2-0 FA Cup over Newcastle but is missing England's friendlies, having suffered a recurrence of his groin injury against Luton last month.
He has missed as many Premier League games through being ruled out or benched as he has played in this season - 14 apiece.
Pep Guardiola told him to dedicate his international break to recapturing his peak fitness. Grealish has started two of City's last 14 matches, getting injured in the first half of both.
'Lonely month working my way back,' the 28-year-old wrote on Instagram, but it was far from a morose post.
Snaps showed Grealish looking determined in a variety of training photos, even trying his hand at water polo and underwater meditation. Perhaps he is bidding to become the world's first amphibious footballer.
The solo snapshots also revealed Grealish doing keepy-ups, jogging past an elaborate arrangement of cones, and stretching under the watchful eye of a coach.
There was an admission that a rushed return was contributing factor to his latest setback, when he was hauled off in the first half against Luton on February 27.
Grealish looked devastated and buried his face in a training jacket as team-mates consoled him.
'Looks like it [a recurrence of the groin injury],' Guardiola said after the game. 'It's the second time. Hopefully this time he can recover well.
'I didn’t speak to the doctor but I think he was complaining a bit about his groin.
'He felt really good but unfortunately was injured again.'
'It’s been a tough season for him. He’ll have to recover well and help us when he’s able to come back.'
The injury came
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