WESTERN Bulldogs star Adam Treloar concedes his recovery from ankle surgery is going slower than hoped and he has not set a timeline for a return to the AFL premiership contenders.
The midfielder has not played since going down during the Bulldogs' smashing of St Kilda in round 10, having played every game before that in his first season at the club since arriving from Collingwood.
The Bulldogs are a game and significant percentage clear in second on the ladder at 11-3 and Treloar is desperate to play again.
But the 28-year-old will not rush back and is determined to get his ankle right.
Treloar remains 4-6 weeks away from playing.
"It's going slower than what I hoped," Treloar told Fox Footy.
"Initially I was very optimistic that I would be back six weeks post-surgery.
MEDICAL ROOM The full AFL injury list
"I'm very diligent and persistent with my rehab and that would have been this week but that's not going to be the case.
"It's just going really slow. With my soft-tissue history and other things, we're just being super precautious with it.
"The last time I hurt myself and put an expectation on when I'd get back, I didn't get back and it gets pretty deflating."
Fellow onball star Josh Dunkley is listed as 3-4 weeks away from returning from shoulder surgery.
