ESSENDON is unsure when Tom Bellchambers will be fit to return to its senior team after the ruckman complained of soreness.

Bellchambers, who had an ankle reconstruction in January after a training mishap, has played the past three games with the club's VFL side.

However, having pulled up sore this week, the Bombers are waiting to see how his body responds to training before setting a date on when he will be able to play his first AFL game of the season.  

"It's a bit of a concern for us," coach Mark Thompson said on Friday ahead of the Bombers' trip to Brisbane to face the Lions on Saturday.

"I think they're trying things to get him right so he can play a game at the AFL level, which he's not capable at the moment."

Thompson said the 24-year-old, who signed a two-year contract with the club last year despite larger offers from rivals, was having no trouble with his ankle, but was suffering "general soreness".

Bellchambers was the Bombers' second leading goalkicker last year with 28 goals from 18 games, and his presence in their midfield and new-look forward line would be a major boost.  

"He's definitely in our best 22. He was hunted and hounded by all the other clubs to get him to their club. He's a very good player for us and we need him back. He's definitely needed," Thompson said.

In better news for the club, off-season acquisition Kurt Aylett will play his first game in the red and black having been traded by Greater Western Sydney at the end of last season.
 
The midfielder/half-back has earned his place after some solid form in the VFL.
 
"He's got enormous endurance [and] a heart like a lion. He's a competitive kid. GWS have got a lot of talented ones, and he's not an elite talent sort of player. He's just going to be a workhorse and a good teammate," Thompson said.
 
After three consecutive defeats the Bombers did enough to beat the Western Bulldogs last week by eight points, but were far from their best.
 
It was also the third consecutive week they have gone goalless for a quarter, and Thompson wants his team to be less dictated by score, and to stick to it if things aren't necessarily going to plan.
 
"The real good teams, they're not affected by the scoreboard, and we are. It shows we're not a good side at the moment – it doesn't mean we can't be there at some stage this year.
 
"[The good sides] continually move the ball well, if they don't have the ball in their hands much, they still come up the corridor if there's one there.
 
"They're really stable in their decision-making. We get affected if we don't score. We've got to change that mind-set."