CARLTON midfielder Marc Murphy will undergo hip surgery later this week and will miss the start of the Blues’ NAB Cup campaign.

Murphy will be sidelined for four weeks as he goes under the knife to repair damage to his hip.

Carlton’s football operations manager Steven Icke said Murphy had been managing his troublesome hip for much of the pre-season.

“Marc had been on a revised program since Christmas, and it was hoped that the injury would have responded to treatment,” Icke told carltonfc.com.au.

“However, after further consultation with our medical staff it was decided that surgery was the best option.”

Murphy finished equal ninth in the 2009 Brownlow Medal count, polling 15 votes.

His surgery is the latest pre-season setback for the Blues after Eddie Betts, Ryan Houlihan and Andrew Walker were suspended for a month for off-field incidents in December.

Captain Chris Judd will also miss the first three matches of the home and away season following a suspension from last year’s final against the Brisbane Lions.

The Blues are expecting Murphy to be available for the season opener against Richmond.

Marc Murphy averaged 102.45 points as a midfielder in last year’s Toyota AFL Dream Team.