There was a welcome sight for all FC Bayern München fans as Thiago Alcantara was reunited with a football for the first time in four months on Tuesday
There was a welcome sight for all FC Bayern München fans as Thiago Alcantara was reunited with a football for the first time in four months on Tuesday

Thiago takes next step in recovery

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Munich - With an extended winter break behind him, FC Bayern München's Thiago Alcantara had the ball at his feet for the first time in four months on Tuesday, as the 23-year-old continues to make progress on his road to recovery from ongoing knee ligament issues.

The Spaniard, who is still undergoing an individual training regime in the hopes of making his comeback before the end of the season, was able to complete on-the-ball exercises for the first time since 14 October. Meanwhile, head coach Pep Guardiola has already expressed his hope that Thiago will be able to return to first-team training in the near future, admitting he was in the

"final phase of his recovery"

in the build-up to FC Bayern's

6-0 win over SC Paderborn 07

. The record titleholders' playmaker has completed just 1,745 minutes of competitive action since moving to Munich in July 2013 and, having had to go under the knife to repair torn ligaments in his right knee on three separate occasions within the last 11 months, is still taking things day by day as he bids to bolster the league leaders' star-studded ranks.