Bayern Munich's German international striker Mario Gomez is pain free and has begun working on mobility in his left ankle four weeks after surgery, the club reported on its website Wednesday.
The 27-year-old, who finished as the Bundesliga's second top scorer behind Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar last season, had cartilage removed from his ankle on August 7 and is still expected to be out for several weeks yet.
Gomez is off crutches and working hard in Bayern's rehab centre with two hours of daily treatment following two hours of training before he can start running again.
He has already missed the first two league games of the season and sits out Germany's World Cup qualifiers against Faroe Islands on Friday in Hanover and Tuesday's match against Austria in Vienna.
In his absence close season signing Croatia Mario Mandzukic has scored four goals in three games.
Bayern are top of the Bundesliga after the opening two games of the season.
