Milan’s combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso returned to training Monday, two months after suffering a serious eye injury.

Gattuso has been battling a nerve problem affecting his left eye and hasn’t played since colliding with teammate Alessandro Nesta during the Serie A opener on 9 September.

Milan says on its website that “it is too soon to talk about recovery time, but his presence on the pitch is an encouraging sign.”

Gattuso was not wearing the special glasses he has been forced to use since the injury.