New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has revealed that he is improving every day as he looks to recover from back surgery.
Gronkowski recently returned to practice for the first time since he underwent the procedure in June, raising hopes that he could be fit to play in their opening match of the season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
However, the 24-year-old is reluctant to put a date on his return and insists that he is taking his recovery day by day.
"Right now, we just take it day by day and [I'm] improving a lot. I've been improving since last week, I've been improving since three weeks ago. The only thing I can ask out of myself, the coaches ask out of me, the trainers ask out of me, is just to take it every day at a time and just to improve every day," Gronkowski is quoted as saying by ESPN.
"It doesn't matter about what [the average recovery time] says. It just matters about how your body feels and how the rehab program is going and how you're progressing every day. I just look forward to every day and I'm not counting since when my surgery was.
"I really don't have a percentage. I don't really think about percentages like that, where my body's at. The only thing I'm focused on is improving every day. And if I'm improving every day and I'm moving in the right direction, then that's all you can ask for, moving in the right direction at all times."
Gronkowski was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2010 Draft and has gone on to be elected to two Pro Bowls.
Barney Corkhill
