Carlton forward Charlie Curnow ‘unlikely’ to return in 2020 after injury setback
Things looked to be on the up for Charlie Curnow last month. But scans have revealed the worst for the talented forward, with Carlton’s football boss casting doubt over a 2020 return.
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Charlie Curnow is set to miss the entire 2020 season – regardless of how late it finishes – after suffering another setback in his slow recovery from a debilitating knee problem.
Curnow, 23, booted 7.1 in his last full game however he has not played since Round 15 last year.
The Carlton goalkicker had been given the green light to ramp up his training loads late last month until he underwent a scan this week, showing a new ‘hairline stress response.’
A ‘response’ is usually the precursor to a stress fracture.
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“It remains difficult to determine if Charlie will be ready to play this season,” Blues football boss Brad Lloyd said last night.
“However, it does appear more unlikely than likely.
“We will continue to manage the situation to ensure the long-term interests of Charlie and his time in the game are protected, while also supporting him throughout this time as he continues his recovery.”
Lloyd said the latest setback was related to one of the screw holes that had been inserted during original surgery last October.
“Ultimately his patella is showing us that there is still a weakness around one of the original screw holes. This stress response is an indication to us that his knee requires more time to heal,” Lloyd said.
“Charlie is walking around with only a small amount of discomfort. He does not require any surgery, but given the nature of this injury, it’s likely this will result in a four to six week setback.”
Blues fitness director Andrew Russell explained Curnow had felt discomfort in his right knee when performing low-weight squat movements.
He says the club is mindful of Curnow’s long-term future and is confident they will get his recovery right.
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“We will not do anything that will jeopardise Charlie’s long term future in the game,” Russell told the club website.
“He needs time and in time we are extremely confident we are going to get Charlie right.
“If we hadn’t done the scan we probably wouldn’t have known there was anything wrong with him. He’s in a position where he just needs to rest that knee for a short period of time.”
Curnow’s absence will heighten the pressure on Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult to kick a winning score when football returns.
Curnow’s injury has been compared to the patella problem that diluted 2008 Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney’s special powers.
Cooney suffered a knock to his knee during the 2008 qualifying final and played the rest of his career through pain, claiming he was never the same.
Originally published as Carlton forward Charlie Curnow ‘unlikely’ to return in 2020 after injury setback
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