Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says Lance Franklin is continuing to build his training program ahead of a return to play, but the club hasn’t put a timeframe on when the star forward will be back.

Franklin has been working through a modified training program since returning to pre-season training, and that program suffered a minor setback on Friday when the forward’s calf tightened at training.

Speaking on radio station SEN, Longmire said it has probably set Franklin back a week in his program.

“He’s (Franklin’s) been going along really well and doing a fair bit of ball work,” Longmire said.

“Last week his calf tightened up a little bit on Friday – about half way through the session – but we expect that these little bumps will pop up now and then.

“It’s probably put him back a week, and then he’ll keep going again next week.”

Franklin endured a frustrating season in 2020 with injuries keeping him sidelined throughout the year.

Longmire said the focus for Franklin has been to get strong again, and he’s encouraged by the No. 23’s progress.

“It’s mainly through his groin area and hamstrings, and just making sure his adductors and all the core elements through his body are nice and strong – that’s the biggest concern and that’s the areas we have been working on.

“He’s been going really well and has gone right through the off-season and right throughout Christmas doing a power of work, and has got himself really strong through that area of his body.”