MIDFIELDER Christian Petracca is progressing strongly from a season-ending knee injury and is set to up his training program in the next few weeks.

Elite performance manager Dave Misson said Petracca was on target to increase his running loads later this month.  

“Within two to three weeks, he will start to impact load,” he told Dee TV.

“He’s probably a few weeks away from running, as he’s still got a little bit of swelling, but he’s doing weights and good leg weights.

“He’s been swimming a lot, and we will start to impact load him with running in probably two to three weeks. That may be initially with a cross trainer, and [he will] do lots of treadmill work, before he gets to running outside.

“We just want to make sure we tick off all his strength work and his stability work before we start to do impact running.”

Misson said former co-captain Jack Trengove, who is also sidelined for the season with a foot injury, had worked closely with Petracca in rehab. 

“Trenners is showing fantastic leadership and really taking Christian under his wing and they’re doing a lot of training together,” he said.

“They’re trying to get a lot of people jumping in and out of their sessions, just so they don’t get too bored with each other, but they’re showing great application and professionalism, so we’re really happy with their progress.

“Time is probably one thing we do have [with Petracca] as we’re not trying to get him back to play this season.

“[Petracca and Trengove] are doing well with their training program, although there is still a long way to go, but they have time on their hands.”