NEW BOMBER Josh Green is only a few weeks away from returning to full training, having overcome the foot problems that derailed his final season with the Brisbane Lions.

Green returned from a foot fracture at the start of 2016 to play 11 senior games last season, but another foot injury ended his year after round 20.

After joining Essendon in November as a delisted free agent, the small forward began his first pre-season at Tullamarine on a modified program.

The 24-year-old has steadily increased his training load since the lead-up to Christmas and expects to return to full training early next month.

"Everything is going well, the foot is feeling good and after January I'll be into full training," Green told essendonfc.com.au

"I'll get a good base in and start to play some match simulation with the boys and see how they play the game, which will be important going forward."

Despite his limited time on the training track, Green has already impressed Dons forward coach Hayden Skipworth.

Skipworth told AFL.com.au that Green's experience – he kicked 107 goals in 81 games with the Lions from 2011-16 and led their goalkicking in 2014 (33) and 2015 (25) – would be a valuable addition to the club's relatively young forward line.

"Greeny can provide some goalkicking power, we think," Skipworth said.

"He's probably come from a club that hasn't (recently) been blessed with a high volume of (forward 50) entries, so we feel if we can get our entries up he's a proven goalkicker."