CARLTON skipper Chris Judd is in good spirits after Monday's minor surgery on his shoulder, and says he expects to start running before Christmas.

Judd, 28, returned to Visy Park on Wednesday to receive physio on his shoulder, and told the Carlton website that the arthroscopic surgery went extremely well.
 
The dual Brownlow medallist injured the shoulder at the end of November and it was first reported that he would miss four months - a time frame Judd laughs at in an interview on carltonfc.com.au.

"I've just come in... to see the doctor and get some physio," Judd said.
 
"I will start to get some light movement going, but I have pulled up really well and am really happy with how it all went. I will be coming in over the next couple of weeks for treatment and leg exercises and expect to be running by Christmas.
 
"The good thing about an upper body injury is there is still plenty of things you can do on your legs, so keeping all that stuff up while resting [the shoulder] holds you in good stead when you go back into work."
 
Judd said it was good to be back at the club so soon after the operation and he should start full training in January.

It is still unclear how Judd injured his shoulder, with the Herald Sun recently reporting he did it in bed, yanking up his doona.

Prior to the injury, he was training at Carlton, and it was thought he hurt the shoulder doing marking drills.

Judd has had a history of shoulder problems and still plays with both shoulders strapped. He had two shoulder operations before he was recruited by West Coast with the No. 3 pick in the 2001 national draft.

Although there has always been questions about the strength of his shoulders, they have not caused him to take any significant time out from the game.