Casillas resumes ball training

01/03/2013 10:20:00 PM

The Spain international's recovery from a hand injury is going according to schedule as he has returned to the training pitch

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has received some encouraging news from the treatment table as Iker Casillas is one step closer to making his comeback having resumed ball training.

The experienced goalkeeper fractured a bone in his left hand on January 23 during the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Valencia, and has since been out of action.

Nevertheless, Casillas is on his way back as Madrid have announced the 31-year-old has made the next step in his recovery process.

"The Real Madrid captain went out onto pitch 1 at Real Madrid’s Football City on Thursday and completed a run and some ball exercises with rehabilitation physio, Carlos Lalin," a statement on the club's official website reads.

"In the rain, Casillas completed a day of training that started very early with specific rehabilitation exercises for his left hand."

Casillas has made 19 La Liga appearances so far this term, keeping eight clean sheets.