CARLTON midfielder Tom Bell will be sidelined for three weeks with a broken jaw.

The elevated rookie suffered the injury on Saturday while playing for the club's VFL affiliate Northern Blues.

On Thursday the Blues announced on their website that scans on Bell's face earlier in the week had revealed a break, which has since been surgically repaired.

It's an untimely setback for the 22-year-old Queenslander, who had been pressing for a senior recall with some strong form in the VFL.

In his second season as a rookie at Carlton, Bell has played four AFL games this year for a career total of 11. His most recent AFL game was when he was a substitute in the round 10 win over Greater Western Sydney.

At season's end, the big-bodied, athletic ball-winner appears likely to be permanently upgraded to the Blues' primary list.

Ben Collins is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_BenCollins