Injury-plagued Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton is hopeful the hamstring injuries that have blighted his career so far may be a thing of the past.
That was the message from Bombers' coach James Hird when he revealed on Melbourne radio that 23-year-old Gumbleton will have another delayed start to the pre-season after having back surgery last week.
Although Gumbleton won't be able to start running until January, the silver lining for the Bombers is the surgery may have fixed the hamstring issues that's seen him miss the 2011 season and restricted him to just 22 games in four seasons.
"Friday last week when he had a back spasm he was absolutely devastated, thinking things like his career might be over," Hird told SEN on Friday morning.
"But after he came out of surgery he was amazingly positive because of what the surgeon was saying, that the reason for the continual hamstring pain he was getting throughout the 2011 season was because of this nerve being bound down by old scar tissue."
"He had a previous back operation, I think it was two years ago ... there was a lot of scarring around there and a bit of a problem to another disc."
"The surgeon was absolutely rapt with the way the surgery went, Scott will be back running around in six weeks."
"The surgeon has guaranteed him he'll have none of those hamstring issues next year."
"It's a bit frustrating for Scotty," Hird admitted.
"But if we had let it go and we had of gone like last year he would have had all those hamstring worries so in some ways it's a real positive."
If Gumbleton is available to boost the forward line next season, the Bombers coach may have a few selection headaches as to which of his tall forwards actually lines-up.
It's a good head-ache to have for Hird, who, as a result, won't be looking to add to it by signing on Brendan Fevola.
"If Brendan was a midfielder we might look at him," declared Hird.
"(But) we've got Hurley, Hille, Ryder, Gumbleton, Carlisle, Crameri."
"If there's one strength we have got it's key forwards (and) we think we've got that position covered."