INJURY-PRONE Kangaroo Jed Anderson will be out of action until at least late January after pre-Christmas surgery on his left thumb.

The former Hawk's latest setback continues his wretched run at AFL level, including shoulder operations three years apart and three hamstring injuries.

Anderson, who is entering the third and final year of his contract with North Melbourne, went under the knife the week before Christmas and is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.

He hurt the thumb at training.

The timing of the injury is particularly cruel for Anderson, given his manager, Tom Petroro, of Stride Sports, told AFL.com.au the Northern Territory product was having a strong pre-season.

"He's had a great summer, so thumb surgery isn't going to set him back, I wouldn't have thought," Petroro said.

"He went to Utah (for North's high-altitude camp for first-to-fourth-year players) off his own bat. He didn't have to go, but he volunteered and he's probably in the best condition he's ever been in.

"He's done a lot of work and he's in a really good spot."

Anderson, a midfielder-forward, has played 15 of his 25 AFL games since arriving at Arden St from Hawthorn in the 2015 NAB AFL Trade Period.

The Kangaroos exchanged picks 15 and 54 in that year's draft for Anderson, who turns 24 in February, and selections 38 and 40.

He was an under-15 and under-18 All Australian and a star performer in the NT's division two triumph at the 2012 AFL Under-18 Championships, alongside Jake Neade and Dom Barry.

Anderson has so far been unable to replicate those feats in the AFL, in part due to repeat injuries.

His brother, Joe, played 17 matches for Carlton between 2007 and 2010, while his sister, Jasmine, was on Adelaide's AFLW list during its historic premiership run this year.