It was back to the training ground on Thursday for United's stars, and there was the welcome sight of Steven Taylor joining in with his teammates for the first time this summer.

The defender ruptured his Achilles last December, and although has been in light training for the last few weeks he was yet to join in with a proper session. That all changed on Thursday morning, however, with Taylor an integral part of the session.

While assistant manager John Carver took the strikers and a number of attack-minded midfielders in a crossing and shooting drill, Taylor and the rest of the defenders headed off to another pitch with boss Alan Pardew for a defensive-specific work-out.

And that was all put into practice at the end with a game, which saw Taylor playing at right-back before switching inside to his natural centre-half role.

Club Photographer Ian Horrocks was there to see it all unfold, and has produced this exclusive gallery of the popular defender's return to the fold along with the rest of the goings on from training.