Carlton General Manager Football Operations Andrew McKay, speaking to CFC TV in this week’s News Update, has confirmed that only four players are sidelined with injury as the 2013 pre-season campaign gathers momentum.

Carlton’s only absentees at this stage are Andrew McInnes, who is still 3-4 months from resuming after reconstructive surgery on his knee, together with Troy Menzel who will be unavailable for a week or two with a slight hip complaint, and Jarrad Waite and Chris Judd who are unavailable for 1-2 weeks with minor calf and hamstring strains respectively.

“Andy McInnes won’t be back for three or four months and that’s what you get when you do an ACL. But he’s progressing very well and he’ll be back in the first half of the season, which is good,” McKay said.

“Troy is just adjusting to training loads, obviously it’s a big change compared to what he’s used to, and we’re just monitoring him. He has a little bit of hip aggravation and we don’t want him to go too hard too early, but we would certainly expect to see him playing Nab Cup.”

Of the more seasoned competitors Waite and Judd, McKay said the club was also taking a softly-softly approach “because we know they can play footy”, but he anticipated that both would be available for Nab Cup selection.


CARLTON INJURY UPDATE

Andrew McInnes   
Knee (3- 4 months)

Troy Menzel                      
Hip (2 weeks)

Jarrad Waite
Calf (1 -2 weeks)

Chris Judd                           
Hamstring (1-2 weeks)