CHARLIE Dixon remains out of action indefinitely, with one of Port Adelaide's most important players having no idea when he will return to the AFL.

The ruck-forward has needed more surgery after suffering a broken leg and ankle damage in round 21 last season against West Coast.

While Dixon could resume some sort of training soon after last week's ankle operation, he is none the wiser about how long his recovery will take.

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"I literally have no return date," Dixon said.

"I'm doing some physical training hopefully next week, and then build on that.

"I literally don't have a time frame at all and it is frustrating.

"I am a big, heavy man and it is putting a lot of weight on my ankle and leg where I broke (it). It is going to take time."

Dixon spoke of his frustration when all the indications were he should be on track for an early-season return, but he kept suffering from severe pain in the injured area.

Last week's exploratory surgery, where doctors made around 10 incisions, revealed cartilage damage in the ankle and that was repaired.

"From the scans it was all good - I should be running, I should be training and doing all this stuff - but I had a shooting pain going up my leg," Dixon said.

"They were telling me I will progress really quickly and it should be fine, but it wasn't.

"I was getting frustrated and a little bit angry that it wasn't coming along.

"Hopefully this does the trick."