Stoke's long-term casualties are back on the training field and gunning for a possible Autumn return.
Danny Higginbotham led the way with several circuits of the Clayton Wood complex at top speed.
Mama Sidibe wasn't too far behind after trotting into gentle action with the club's medical staff.
Last, but by no means least, came Ricardo Fuller with some high-stepping routines in the latest leg of his comeback from long-term injury.
All three cut a promising sight in training yesterday after already stacking up more than 12 months between them on the sidelines.
Higginbotham suffered Wembley heartache earlier this year after suffering a ruptured cruciate knee ligament injury when Chelsea keeper Petr Cech fell on him during the 1-1 draw at the Britannia on April 2.
The injury was all the harder to bear because Higginbotham had just run into blistering goalscoring form by netting free-kicks in the FA Cup quarter-final win over West Ham and the Premier League victory over Newcastle.
Sidibe's heartache has been even greater after twice snapping his right Achilles tendon within the space of six months.
The popular Mali international had just returned from the first injury when the tendon gave way a second time during a routing training session in February.
The big striker, who will always be fondly remembered for scoring the 94th-minute winner in Stoke's first Premier League victory three years ago, is taking even longer over his latest comeback to ensure disaster doesn't strike for a third time.
Fuller was laid low back on April 23 when falling awkwardly in an otherwise innocuous incident to leave him with a ruptured left Achilles tendon during the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.
But his cheerful presence is back on the training field once again as he eyes a return to action around late October/early November.
source: thisisstaffs
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