CARLTON forward Troy Menzel has escaped serious injury to his reconstructed right knee with scans showing he suffered no more than bone bruising in Sunday's win over Gold Coast.
Menzel injured his heavily strapped knee in the first quarter against the Suns and was assessed by Carlton's medical staff for some time. He returned to the field in the second quarter but appeared restricted and was substituted out of the game late in the third term.
Menzel had LARS surgery to reconstruct his right anterior cruciate ligament as a 16-year-old in 2011 and there were fears he might have damaged that synthetic graft.
But a Carlton spokesman told AFL.com.au on Monday night that scans had cleared Menzel of any ligament damage, with the forward a chance to play in Saturday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs.
One of the brightest young talents on the Blues' list, Menzel looms as an important part of the rebuilding club's future.
The Blues took the South Australian in the 2012 national draft at what many considered was the bargain price of pick No.11.
He has since played 34 games and kicked 46 goals, and last year finished third on Carlton's goalkicking table with 26 goals from 19 games.
Menzel missed five senior games earlier this season with a calf strain.
Menzel escapes serious knee injury
Carlton forward Troy Menzel cleared of serious knee injury