SCANS have confirmed Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin has damaged his calf but coach Ross Lyon is upbeat about his prospects of a return this year.

 

McPharlin felt discomfort in his calf during the second quarter of Fremantle's two-point loss to Geelong on Saturday night and was substituted out of the match in the third quarter.

 

Lyon told 6PR on Monday night the injury is not catastrophic but McPharlin will need time to fully recover.

 

"He's done a little bit of a calf," Lyon said.

 

"It's not ideal, obviously, but it's nothing dramatic either. We were hoping for a clear scan.

"He'll just need to do the work and get going and build some confidence in his body so we're not overly fussed. 

"It is disappointing because Luke's been enormous for me and the club. But we've certainly got (Alex) Silvagni there, [and] we've got Alex Pearce."

 

While Lyon was positive, McPharlin's injury problems over the past two seasons cannot be ignored.

 

The veteran has missed six games due to injury this season. McPharlin missed two matches with a quad issue he suffered in the round seven Western Derby. He missed rounds 13, 14 and 15 with a medial ligament strain and also missed round 17 with a calf complaint.

 

The 2012 All Australian missed eight matches in the lead up to the 2013 finals series with a torn calf. 

 

In better news for Fremantle, Nat Fyfe has been cleared of damage to his right shoulder in Saturday night's loss.

 

Lyon also suggested electric small forward Michael Walters may not be an automatic selection to play against Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon after 19 touches and a goal in a successful return to the WAFL following ankle surgery.

 

Lyon will ponder the make-up of his forward line this week after Hayden Crozier and Max Duffy entrenched themselves in the team to face the Hawks with five goals between them against Geelong.