CARLTON midfielder Ed Curnow will make his return from a serious bruised larynx injury during the JLT Community Series after being cleared by medical specialists last month.  

Curnow is training well after recovering from the injury that ended his 2017 season after round 14 and even threatened his career.

Football manager Andrew McKay said the 28-year-old would be fit to return when the Blues face St Kilda in their opening pre-season game at Ikon Park on February 28.

"Ed’s fine. He has got the all clear from the throat issue (and) there is no drama at all," McKay told News Corp.

"He saw the surgeon in January and he got the tick of approval. He has been doing the full box and dice (at training) and will be right to play."

Carlton will enter the season without All Australian Sam Docherty and important defender Sam Rowe, but the medical room is in good shape otherwise. 

Recruit Matthew Kennedy (both shoulders), star midfielder Patrick Cripps (broken leg), ruckman Andrew Phillips (foot) and young key forward Harry McKay (toe) have all made excellent recoveries after undergoing surgery.

Recruit Darcy Lang strained ligaments in his ankle and was placed on a modified program last month, but the Blues hope the former Geelong midfielder will be fit for round one.

Carlton faces Hawthorn in its second JLT Community Series match on March 10 in Tasmania before opening the home-and-away season against Richmond at the MCG on March 22.