Cristiano Ronaldo sported Kinesio tape on his knee while training with Real Madrid as the Portuguese superstar continues to step up his rehabilitation from the injury he sustained in last month's Euro 2016 final.
Ronaldo was forced off in the first-half of his country's victory over France following a clash with Dimtri Payet and was originally expected to be ruled out until September 10, when Real host Osasuna.
But the former Manchester United player returned to work with his club on Friday and was fit enough to go through a further series of drills on Saturday, albeit he did not train with the main group preparing to begin their La Liga campaign at Real Sociedad on Sunday.The sight of Ronaldo out on the pitches at the club's Valdebebas training complex for a second successive day, however, will give legs to suggestions the 31-year-old could make his return as soon as his team's home match with Celta Vigo next Saturday.
In a further effort to hasten his recovery, Ronaldo applied the Kinesio tape to his problem knee. This is designed to offer support to the afflicted area, while manipulating soft tissue to expedite the recuperation process.
Gareth Bale, meanwhile, took full part in the session, three days on from starting his team's final pre-season game, which Zinedine Zidane's side won 5-3 against French outfit Stade de Reims. That was Bale's first appearance since Wales bowed out of the summer's European Championship to Ronaldo's Portugal.
Without their dynamic attacking duo Real had won three of their previous four games in a promising build-up to the campaign, most notably beating Sevilla 3-2 in a compelling UEFA Super Cup encounter.
And with Bale and German midfielder Toni Kroos both back in the fold following their exertions in France, Zidane will have something close to a full hand for the trip to Sociedad.The French manager had previously suggested he wouldn't rush Ronaldo back into action.
But with the 32-time Spanish champions seeking a first domestic title since 2012 the temptation will surely be to recall his serially prolific forward at the first possible opportunity.
Real missed out on top spot to Barcelona by a single point last season and will be desperate not to hand their fierce Clasico rivals a head start in this year's race.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
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