STAR North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells is still up to three weeks away from playing as his recovery from a foot injury continues to be slower than expected.
Wells has not played since North's round five match against Collingwood after injuring his right foot in the lead-up to that game when teammate Drew Petrie accidentally trod on it at training.
Wells' injury was initially diagnosed as bone bruising, but when it failed to improve after rest he underwent a weight-bearing X-ray last month that revealed he had a Lisfranc injury (when one or more of the metatarsal bones are displaced from the tarsus).
Wells has returned to the training track in recent weeks, with the Roos listing him as being one to two weeks away from a return last week.
That estimate blew out to two to three weeks on Tuesday, but a North spokesman told AFL.com.au that was merely because the club was taking a conservative approach to Wells' recovery.
"Wells is taking a little longer (than expected) but there's been no setback as such," the spokesman said.
Jamie Macmillan and Taylor Garner's return dates from long-term injuries have also been pushed back by the Roos, again as part of a conservative approach to their rehabilitation.
Macmillan broke his right fibula in round three against Port Adelaide, with North initially expecting him to return in four to six weeks.
North last week listed Macmillan's likely return date as round 14 or round 15, but that has now been pushed back to round 15 or 16.
Garner has yet to play at any level this season after struggling to overcome a left hamstring tendon injury he suffered in North's NAB Cup loss to Hawthorn in February.
North listed the second-year forward as being a chance to play last round subject to a fitness test, but now say he is another one to two weeks away from playing.
Meanwhile, North ruckman Daniel Currie is set to miss two to three weeks with a small crack in his scapula, after being accidentally kneed in Werribee's loss to Essendon's VFL team last Sunday.
