Rodri returns! Ballon d'Or winner spotted in Man City team training for first time since brutal ACL tear

Rodri sustained an ACL injury against Arsenal in September and has been nursing the problem ever since. The Spain international, who won the Ballon d'Or amid his injury recovery, has been forced to watch from the sidelines as Pep Guardiola's team have slipped to fourth in the Premier League table, with Liverpool crowned champions last weekend.

Now, though, Rodri has returned to training as City step up his rehabilitation programme. The midfielder is unlikely to play in any Premier League games before the end of the season, nor the FA Cup final, but a return at the Club World Cup is being targeted, per Sky Sports.

Rodri had been central to all of City's four successive Premier League title triumphs, but his absence left a huge hole that they roundly failed to fill. He has made a total of 260 appearances for the club, and has also won the Champions League, the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups during his time at the Etihad.

City face Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham in their final four games of the season; they also face Crystal Palace in the final of the FA Cup on May 17.