ESSENDON midfielder Brent Stanton is expected to face the Western Bulldogs on Sunday after scans revealed no serious damage to his ankle.

 

Stanton's injury was checked on Monday after the club was unsure of the injury he received in last week's win over Port Adelaide.

 

But Essendon's football operations manager Steve Alessio said Stanton would likely be fit to meet the Bulldogs.

 

"Brent had scans on his ankle on Monday that cleared him of any serious damage which is great news," Alessio told essendonfc.com.au.

"We would expect him to train fully this week and be fit to line up against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday."

 

Stanton played out the game on Sunday with the injury and finished with 23 disposals and two goals, with coach James Hird crediting him for being a major part of the result.

 

"He was able to play at 80-85 per cent, and I thought his game tonight after half-time, when he came back on with that injury, was terrific," Hird said after the Bombers' win over the Power. 

"[He kicked] two goals, got a fair bit of the ball, defended really well, and enabled our rotations to happen.

"I thought we really tired towards the end of the game and without 'Stants' performing that role it might have been a different story tonight.

"It was a huge part of us winning tonight – Brent Stanton being able to stay out on the ground."