Carlton is expecting Sam Walsh to return in either Round 4 or 5 as he edges closer to full fitness from a back injury.
Walsh underwent surgery in December last year to remove a bulging disc portion and relieve pressure on a nerve in his back.
Despite Blues assistant coach Aaron Hamill stating the original timeframe is in place for Walsh, he added that the 22-year-old is training the house down.
“A couple of weeks (away),” Hamill responded on SEN’s Sportsday when questioned about Walsh’s return date.
“If you looked at him during the week and how he’s training you’d think he could play tonight.
“He’s beating down the door, he’s recovering really well, he’s getting a heap of work into him. He’s got that steely determination that Sam Walsh always has about him.
“The main thing is he’s doing large volumes of work, 12 and 14-kilometre sessions but pulling up really well, so we’re hoping it’s in the next fortnight.”
When asked if it could be a back injury that lingers, Hamill added: It’ll be a couple of weeks (on the sidelines for Walsh). Two, three, hopefully not four”.
Walsh missed the opening round of the season as Carlton and Richmond played out a draw, and will miss Thursday night’s game against Geelong.
A return date of two or three weeks will see Walsh return to the senior side against either North Melbourne or Adelaide.
The midfielder’s absence will be a blow to start the season, while a hand injury to George Hewett creates further issues for Michael Voss’ best midfield.
Rumours had flown in the pre-season that Walsh was eyeing off an early return, but the young star knocked back those suggestions in the leadup to Round 1.
“My time in footy I haven’t had a lot of injuries, but the news can be a bit comical in the way it’s talked about,” Walsh told Carlton Media. “I’ve got to remember it comes from a place of interest and people care, but people trying to get in first with what I’m doing with my training and when I’m going to return when there’s only three people at the club who know – and I’m not one of them, it has been funny to listen to.”