After more than six months since a horrid ACL injury, Manchester City winger Leroy Sané is set to make his comeback — and no, it’s not for the first team. Sané is in the squad of Manchester City’s U23 team (football.london).

Sané was seen on a train traveling with the U23 team. Pep Guardiola subsequently confirmed the arrangement. He said,

It’s an incredibly good decision. I don’t want to put targets on him, we want him to see the game, speak with him, how he felt against Arsenal. It’s good.

Given Sané’s young age (24) to be eligible for the U23’s, this is a clever way to ensure his comeback is measured and controlled. Major injuries such as an ACL tear, followed by a lengthy layoff for rehabilitation and conditioning, take a toll on both the body and the mind.

The U23 game gives Sané his crucial first minutes on the pitch after injury in an atmosphere that is far less intense than the Premier League, which will only make it easier for Sané to find his feet again. Considering Pep’s reputation for rushing his players back from injury only to see them re-injured, this news must put a little smile on the faces of both City and Bayern Munich fans.