CARLTON recruit Kristian Jaksch's foot injury is not as bad as first thought, with the club confident he will resume full training at the start of January. 

Jaksch, who was traded to the Blues from Greater Western Sydney in the off-season, was expected to miss up to two months after being diagnosed in mid-November with a stress reaction in the navicular bone in his left foot.

The club was worried the injury could turn into a stress fracture if not properly treated.

But the promising 20-year-old has since resumed running and should be cleared for full-contact training after the Christmas break.

"Kristian is out of the moon boot and is back training, while continuing to be monitored," Blues football manager Andrew McKay told AFL.com.au.

"We expect him to resume full-contact training in the new year."

The 196cm defender played seven games during his two years on the Giants' list but battled for opportunities, given the abundance of talented key-position prospects at GWS.

The Blues have identified the versatile Jaksch as a potential replacement for Jarrad Waite up forward, although there is every chance he will complement Michael Jamison and Sam Rowe in defence in 2015.

Jaksch, drafted at No.12 in 2012, attracted significant interest during this year's trade period, with St Kilda and Carlton among the clubs seeking his services.

The Blues and Giants eventually agreed on a trade that sent Jaksch, Mark Whiley and pick No.19 to Visy Park in exchange for pick No.7 (used to draft Paul Ahern) to GWS.

McKay said the Blues were pleased with Jaksch's progress, particularly the way his foot had responded to increased training loads 

"Kristian is completing his ongoing rehab program and has not missed a beat," McKay said.