Fulham captain Brian McBride has returned to training after being sidelined five months with a knee injury.
The former U.S. national team star dislocated his left kneecap while scoring in a 2-1 Premier League loss to Middlesbrough on Aug. 18, but Fulham said Tuesday that he is nearing a comeback after completing a full first-team training session last week.
Fulham, which had expected the 35-year-old striker to forward to action in December, said it was too early to speculate on when McBride would be fit enough for the Premier League. He could play for Fulham’s reserve team as part of his rehabilitation, with the second string’s next match at home to Reading.
McBride has been at Fulham since January 2004. He also played with Everton, Preston and the Columbus Crew.
Without its main striker, Fulham has scored just 23 goals in 22 matches and slipped to 19th in the 20-team Premier League, putting it on course to be relegated.
