Carlton star Patrick Cripps to miss up to 12 weeks with stress reaction in his lower back

CARLTON has been dealt a major blow with gun midfielder Patrick Cripps to miss up to 12 weeks with a stress reaction in his lower back.

CARLTON has been dealt a major blow with gun midfielder Patrick Cripps to miss up to 12 weeks with a stress reaction in his back.

The 21-year-old has been back training for nearly a month but felt discomfort in his lower back during training on Wednesday.

He was sent for scans on Thursday, which revealed the injury.

The Blues are hopeful Cripps will be fit in time for the pre-season competition early next year but will likely be cautious with the young star’s recovery.

Patrick Cripps will miss up to 12 weeks with a back injury. Picture: Getty

“While the news is disappointing, the positive is we have diagnosed the condition early, minimising his time on the sidelines,” Carlton football boss Andrew McKay said.

“Given his professionalism and determination, we are confident Patrick will be ready for the 2017 pre-season competition.”

The injury is similar to that suffered by teammate Harry McKay in March this year, which saw the Blues draftee sidelined until late June.

One of the game’s best young midfielders, Cripps has played 44 games for the Blues since being draft at pick No.13 in the 2013 national draft and has already won a club best and fairest.