MITCH McGovern will take time to reach his best form, with Carlton interim coach David Teague preaching patience with the Blues' star recruit.
The former Adelaide goalkicker has attracted criticism in his first season at Carlton, having booted just 17 goals in 12 games.
He will have to shoulder the forward load this Sunday against Melbourne, with Charlie Curnow (knee) and Harry McKay (groin) missing the clash through injury.
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Teague said the 24-year-old was continuing to do his part for the Blues in an injury-hit line-up and that the club is confident its recruit will recapture his best form.
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"He's been really good for us for periods this year. He's probably not performing at the level that he'd love to perform at, but while he's still playing a role for the team, he'll get a game," Teague said on Friday.
"He's got to continue to work on his fitness, work on his chemistry with the other guys around him and training hard.
Mitch McGovern feels the strain after losing to the Bulldogs. Picture: AFL Photos
"We've talked about how training well will get us to execute in games, and he probably hasn't been able to get out on the training track a lot this year because he's had a few injury issues and niggles.
"He's a very good player and what he brings in a leadership capacity is probably not seen to others, but he'll actually deliver a lot more over time. Carlton fans should be really excited for that, but just have to remain patient."
Darcy Lang is set to come in to the Blues' side as Curnow's replacement.
Co-captain Patrick Cripps will miss again with his foot injury, after failing a fitness test with David Cuningham (knee), but Teague expects them back to face Sydney in round 17.
"Him and David had a fitness test yesterday and didn't quite get up, so they should be available next week. As far as I've been told they'll be right next week," Teague said.
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"They thought [Cripps] might have been available even last week, but he didn't quite get up and didn't get up again. He hurt it apparently at the end of the Bulldogs game [in round 13]. It's a foot sprain.
"I saw him out on the track and got excited and then they said 'No, he's not quite right', so hopefully next week. He was moving pretty well yesterday."
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The Blues had a huge reliance on Cripps in the first half of the season, with the Brownlow Medal fancy living up to the challenge consistently.
However, Teague said last week's last-gasp win over Fremantle showed Carlton's players their midfield could function without Cripps.
"Even for Patrick, he can see that he doesn't need to be in the centre bounces [all the time] and at every stoppage. He saw that Ed Curnow stepped up when needed, and Marc Murphy. Jack Silvagni went in there and did a role, Sam Walsh has been playing some really good football and Sam Petrevski-Seton went through there last week," Teague said.
"They got the job done and that's what we require. Regardless who goes out there, they've got a role to play and that's what we've been selling and the players have been buying into it."