Carlton coach Michael Voss has confirmed that young star Sam Walsh is nearing a return despite not being selected this week, revealing that Walsh is likely to play in Round 5.
Walsh hasn't played a senior game since Round 22 last season, dealing with an ongoing back injury, but is close to returning to full fitness.
With the Blues travelling to South Australia for Gather Round in Round 5, Voss is confident his young gun will be in the selected side, with a ten-day break before Round 6 ensuring Walsh has plenty of time to recover.
"He won't play this week," Voss told media on Thursday.
"We've been pretty steadfast in our position with him. We've taken a pretty steady approach and he's had some milestones that he's had to achieve and we've stuck to those milestones.
"One of those last milestones was being able to train again fully yesterday. He was able to do that, so barring him not pulling up well from that particular session – which I'm led to believe he's OK – then he'll play next week."
Matt Kennedy has also been ruled out of Round 4 availability with a calf injury, as has Jack Martin, but both are looking as potential Round 5 inclusions alongside Walsh.
"(Kennedy) won't play either. He fell just a little bit short. He'll be available next week, but he wasn't able to get the required work in yesterday. We'll just take a pretty low-risk approach to it" Voss said.
"Another person needs to step up and get the job done. It's been a real signature part of our team, when one man goes down the next man comes in. We've been a pretty settled side, but unfortunately Matty hasn't come up."
Matt Owies (hamstring) and Blake Acres (suspension) will both be forced out of the team set to face North Melbourne on Friday afternoon, while the Kangaroos will be without Griffin Logue and Ben McKay.
Carlton's Good Friday Clash against North Melbourne will kick off at Marvel Stadium at 4:20pm (AEST).
