THIS wasn't the return to football Port Adelaide forward Angus Monfries had hoped for after serving a season-long anti-doping suspension.
Monfries, who was at Essendon in 2012 during the club's ill-fated supplements saga, has undergone shoulder surgery after an injury at training last week, but he will return to full training after the Christmas break.
Power key forward Charlie Dixon will also be sidelined for pre-season training while he recovers from ankle surgery.
But like Monfries, Dixon is expected to be back on the park for the start of next year.
Power's head of high performance Darren Burgess said the club took a cautious approach with Monfries.
"We just feel it's safest to get [Monfries'] shoulder right now so there are no issues down the track," Burgess told pafc.com.au.
"He'll be back running in a few weeks, but will stay out of full contact drills until after Christmas."
Monfries returned to training two weeks ago with the Power's first-to-fourth-year players alongside former Bombers teammate Paddy Ryder.
The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract extension with the Power for next year, but faces competition from Aaron Young and Jarman Impey for a spot in the club's best 22.
Dixon showed glimpses of his best in his first season with the Power after joining the club from Gold Coast at the end of 2015.
The 26-year-old booted 30 goals in 18 games, but was sidelined for the final two rounds with an ankle injury.
"Charlie has a history of ankle issues," Burgess said.
"This is the same ankle that gave him problems towards the end of last season so we thought the most sensible thing to do was get it cleaned up now.
"He'll be back running in three to four weeks and ready for full training when the group returns from the Christmas break."
