HEATH Hocking's return to full training has been pushed back by up to four weeks as the Essendon midfielder recovers from off-season groin surgery.

Hocking, who carried groin soreness through last season and still managed 22 games, had surgery in late December and had hoped to begin a full program by the end of this month.

Club doctor Bruce Reid said his return had been pushed back, however, and the 26-year-old would now aim to join the main group shortly before NAB Challenge matches start next month.

"He's doing well, but he's still not going to be in full training until mid February, maybe end of February.," Reid told essendonfc.com.au.

"He's doing stuff in the high-altitude room, he's swimming and starting on bike … he's slowly getting there.

"The concern is he's missing out on a full pre-season, but the upside for him is this is his ninth or 10th pre-season, so it's not as though we're dealing with an 18-year-old kid who'll never catch up."

Versatile tall Jake Carlisle also faces a wait to join his teammates in full training as he recovers from a patella tendon issue.

Carlisle, who has suffered minor patella tendinitis through his career, had a flare-up in November and his program was modified, but the 23-year-old is now running.

"We went back to square one pre-Christmas and he's progressing now," Reid said.  

"He's so important that we want that patella tendon right … we want him ready to go in mid-February/March."

Reid said small forward Nick Kommer was the club's biggest concern in the medical room after undergoing surgery to repair cartilage under a kneecap.

Kommer, who also battled patella tendonitis, is running on an Alter-G treadmill with weight support, but he is not likely to join the main group until March. 

After overcoming ankle and hamstring issues respectively, ruckmen Tom Bellchambers and Jonathan Giles are in full training.

Reid said midfielder Alex Browne, who missed the entire 2014 season after undergoing a knee reconstruction, would start a full program in six weeks.