FORMER co-captain Jack Trengove is likely to have his first run outside this week, as he takes another step in his recovery from a debilitating foot injury.

Elite performance manager Dave Misson said the midfielder, who has not played since early last year, was upbeat about Trengove’s progression in his rehab.

“Jack may actually have his first run outside, so that’ll be a pretty momentous occasions for him,” he told Dee TV.

Meanwhile, first-year Demon Christian Petracca is set to see a knee reconditioning specialist in the United States of America at the end of the season, pending AFL approval.

Petracca, who was the second player selected in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, will head to Philadelphia, as he continues his comeback from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament suffered in his left knee in February this year.

“Christian’s moving into the agility phase and he’s also been booked into the [United] States at the end of the season to work with a knee reconditioning specialist,” Misson said.  

“[The specialist is] someone who [Adelaide’s] Taylor Walker and [Greater Western Sydney’s] Jonathon Patton have both been over to see in their ACL rehab.

“Christian is pretty excited about that and it’s going to be a great opportunity for him to take his rehab to the next level.”

Forward Dean Kent is set to miss another two weeks as he overcomes a hamstring setback.  

“Kenty tightened up in a VFL development game, but we’re confident that he didn’t reinjure that hamstring that he had surgery on,” Misson said.

“We’re playing a pretty consecutive line and he’ll be back training tomorrow (Wednesday), but we just feel we want to tick off a couple of weeks of training before we let him play again.

“He’s in really good shape and is running fast … but he won’t play this week or next week and we want to give him two solid weeks of training before he plays again.”

Father/son recruit Billy Stretch was rested last round, after playing eight matches so far in his first season.

“Billy’s game loads have been very high and we’re very conscious he’s a first year player who hasn’t had a full pre-season,” Misson said.

“His body’s fine and he’s in good shape, but we gave him the opportunity to go back to Adelaide for the weekend to really freshen up.

“He’ll be available this week for either AFL or VFL.”

Emerging defender Oscar McDonald, who did not play for Casey against Werribee at Casey Fields on Sunday, due to a groin injury, is a test for this week. 

“He’s another first year player we’re managing. Oscar’s groin just fired up a little bit last week – [it was] nothing too serious, but he pulled up and ran well yesterday (Monday),” Misson said.

“We’re conscious that we don’t want these guys falling off the cliff at the end of the season, so we’ll just monitor Oscar this week and make a decision later in the week, whether he plays this week or not.

“If [it’s] not this week, he’ll definitely play next week.”

Another young Demon, Jayden Hunt, was ill last round and did not play for the Scorpions, but Misson said he should be right to play for Casey against Box Hill at Box Hill City Oval on Sunday.

“Jayden just got a pretty bad case of gastro a couple of days before the game, so the doctor ruled him out,” he said.

Big man Sam Frost (toe) – who has missed all but the opening three rounds – is now three weeks away from resuming.

“He’s running very fast in rehab and he’ll probably do some training with the group next week,” Misson said.

“He’s a few weeks away from playing potentially.”

Versatile tall Cam Pedersen (wrist), who was originally ruled out for the season, after injuring his wrist against St Kilda in round 11, remains a chance to return by season’s end.

“He had his wires taken out of his wrist last Thursday and the surgeon was pretty happy with how that wrist is going,” Misson said.

“It’s a matter of having a look at his function at the moment and he’ll have an x-ray next week on his scaphoid, which is a structure within his wrist.

“That’ll determine whether he’s a chance to play again this year or not.”

Melbourne injury list: round 19
Sam Frost (toe) - 3 weeks
Jayden Hunt (ill) - available
Dean Kent (hamstring) - 2 weeks
Oscar McDonald (groin) - test
Cam Pedersen (wrist) - 4-5 weeks
Christian Petracca (knee) - season
Billy Stretch (rested) - available
Jack Trengove (foot) - season