MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: Charlie Curnow of the Blues celebrates kicking a goal during the round 13 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on June 15, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Carlton big man Charlie Curnow is thought to be ahead of schedule as he returns from a knee injury, reports SEN's Sam Edmund.

It's been a long wait for the 24-year-old Curnow, who hasn't played since round 15 2019, and an even longer wait for Blues fans.

Curnow has suffered a multitude of setbacks to his troublesome knee in what has been a rough couple of years for the 24-year old.

However, there is finally some positive news, with Curnow recently returning to training and potentially on the cusp of playing VFL football.

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Edmund said on SEN yesterday "I'm hearing he's been running solidly for about a month now.... he's now well and truly in the rehab group and I'm told that if you go to watch Carlton training, you're probably going to walk away wondering how he can't be playing. He's looking really good."

"They will obviously be careful, he's a marquee player coming off a seventh injury setback with his knee."

Edmund continued: "I've been told he might only be a week off resuming training with the main group at Carlton, then obviously VFL for a period and then a return to the top level."

"He's slightly ahead of schedule, I understand, but obviously softly, softly."

The prospect of Curnow lining up alongside in-form spearhead Harry McKay is a tantalising one for Blues fans, who'll be praying to the Footy Gods that there are no further setbacks for the athletic powerhouse.