Tottenham captain Ledley King has stepped up training with England's squad.

King returned to the training ground on Thursday morning as he stepped up his recovery from a groin strain.

King suffered the injury during the early minutes of England's draw with the United States in Rustenburg on June 12, since when he has been consigned to gym work.

Admittedly, King did not do any contact work, and was restricted to an individual session.

However, King's appearance on Thursday will give hope that Fabio Capello might have him available sooner than anticipated, if not for the last-16 clash with Germany in Bloemfontein on Sunday, then for a potential quarter-final meeting with either Argentina or Mexico in Cape Town the following weekend.