CARLTON has suffered another pre-season setback, with star recruit Mitch McGovern suffering a minor fracture to his back at training earlier this week.

It's believed McGovern sustained the injury while taking an impressive mark during Thursday's session, which was the club's final outing before Christmas.

He subsequently underwent scans, which determined a small, non-displaced fracture in his lower back. The Blues are confident he won't miss much, if any, training after Christmas.

The former Adelaide forward bravely ran with the flight of play to take the mark, before colliding with fellow new import Alex Fasolo and landing on his back.

He took his kick for goal but was in some discomfort and made his way from the track shortly after.

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The impact of the injury will be softened by the fact the Blues began their Christmas holidays on Friday, with the group not expected to report back to training until January 11.

Blues head of football, Brad Lloyd, said, "Often with this type of injury players can miss one to two games during the season, while for others it's not uncommon to not miss any at all.

"Mitch will obviously continue to be monitored during this next period, however we're confident he’ll be back training with the rest of the team following the Christmas break."

Regardless, the setback continues a horror run of pre-season injuries for the Blues as the club goes into a crucial campaign next year.

New co-captain Sam Docherty ruptured his ACL for the second successive time earlier in the month, while Jarrod Pickett ruptured his patella tendon during Thursday's brutal session.

Pickett underwent surgery on Friday, with the club still to determine how long he will be sidelined, though Docherty is expected to miss most – if not all – of next season.

McGovern made the move to Carlton during this year's NAB AFL Trade Period, having crossed from Adelaide where he played 67 games in four years.

His last two years have been hampered by injury, spending several weeks sidelined with a hamstring problem in 2017 before missing a large portion of last season with an ankle injury.