Imagine Marcus Bettinelli in the Fulham gym watching his team-mates out on the training pitch.

Frustrated? Irritated? Tough? Yes, all of these - but finally the Whites keeper can see the light at the end of a long tunnel after his cruciate injury all the way back to August.

Betts knew he had done something seriously wrong the second he collided with Matt Smith during the 2-1 defeat at Hull City.

At the time he didn’t know the pair of them and defender Jack Grimmer, injured at Wycombe the week before, would soon be called the Brace Brothers as they hobbled around in supports.

The 23-year-old keeper has set no return date even though the best bet is the end of March. But is delighted he finally pulled on a pair of football boots this week and got to run on grass alongside the others.

If you want to see the full interview with Bettinelli - click below.

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“It’s been a really long road,” he told the club’s website. “It feels a long time since I was being carried off on a stretcher. It has been tough. But this was the first time I was out running in my football boots.

“It’s frustrating and looking out of the gym window and seeing the lads training. But when I went out I was watching it (training) more than running and with Tunners (Ryan Tunnicliffe).

“Me, Matty and Jack Grimmer got known as the Brace brothers around the training ground. I was there for them and they were there for me.

“It was meant to be such a big year for me. But as soon as I hit the deck I knew I was done for a long time.

“I’ve never set a return date, but have set little targets each time - and I’m ticking them off.”