Full-forward Lance Franklin will have an operation to repair a recurring finger injury, but will be fit to return to training as scheduled in January.

Franklin, who hasn’t missed a session since returning to training on November 30, has opted for the minor operation to repair a bone spur which has hindered his ball handling so far this pre-season.

Head Physiotherapist and Rehabilitation Coordinator Matt Cameron said the procedure shouldn’t hinder Franklin’s program during the Christmas break before the players return on January 4.

“(The injury) is bothering him with marking and tackling work that he’s been doing this pre-season,” Cameron told the HCF injury update.

“There’s a little bone spur irritating the nerve and the tendon isn’t quite working properly.

“He’ll go in for an operation this week to tidy it up. We’ve timed it so he’ll be right by January.”

Franklin will join Jarrad McVeigh, Zak Jones and Michael Talia as players who have had operations during the off-season.

Talia dislocated a finger during a tackling drill and has since had surgery to repair the injury while McVeigh and Jones continued steady comebacks from respective knee operations during the off-season.

Cameron said McVeigh’s procedure, to repair damaged knee cartilage, was more extensive with the co-captain unable to run for the past three months.

“Jarrad has been training inside and on the bike a fair bit,” he added.

“But he gets a Christmas present and will start running then so you’ll start seeing him out there in January.”

Luke Parker, Kieren Jack and Sam Reid are continuing to make steady progress in their recovery from season ending injuries.

Parker (ankle) has already joined the main group for full training while Jack (knee) and Reid (hamstring) have been completing modified sessions and should re-join the squad in mid-January.

Ben McGlynn (calf), Isaac Heeney (knee), Jordan Foote (shin) and Sam Naismith (groin) are on modified programs with the intent of nursing them back into full training in the coming weeks.