Jack O'Connell pictured kicking a ball as Sheffield United defender steps up his recovery from knee surgery

O'Connell went under the knife earlier this season after the decision was taken that a long-standing complaint, that has hampered him throughout his senior career, needed rectifying with surgery.

His absence has been cited as a major factor in United's struggles so far this season, and boss Chris Wilder recently raised hopes that he may be back to help United's survival effort around next month.

O'Connell will be named in United's 25-man squad that is submitted to the Premier League when the current transfer window slams shut, and has been photographed at Shirecliffe testing out the knee by controlling and passing a ball while using a 'lateral rebounder' by a company called Alpha Champ.

Endorsed by United's head of medical Paul Watson, the rebounder improves balance, co-ordination and stability and is also being used by United's Yorkshire rivals, Leeds United.

“Jack is working extremely hard behind the scenes and he’s coming along, which is no surprise given the hard work he is putting in," Wilder added recently.

“But, like a few of the issues we’ve got, you just never really know until the start doing the physical contact stuff in training. It’s still a contact sport, so they’ve got to be able to perform that part of their job."

O'Connell returned to Shirecliffe after being granted permission to continue his rehabilitation abroad, working with a personal trainer in Dubai.

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