West Ham striker Andy Carroll is hopeful of being fit for the start of the season as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined since February, when he injured a knee in the Barclays Premier League draw at Southampton.
Carroll has stayed behind at the club’s training ground to work on his recovery, with most of his team-mates away on their summer holidays.
He has recently resumed jogging and hopes to be back out on the training pitch kicking a ball in the near future.
He told his club’s official website: “The injury is going well and I have pretty much been in every day working on it and strengthening the injury. I started jogging and it is all getting better.
“I have been in the gym a long time now and it is nice to be outside going for a jog and it felt great afterwards. Hopefully I can be back out there.
“I want to step it up again and start kicking a ball but I am glad to be outside and moving again.”
West Ham start their Europa League campaign on July 2, with the Premier League season starting on August 8.