GEELONG recruit Shaun Higgins has returned to skills training as he continues to progress through his injury recovery.

Mark O'Connor and Jake Kolodjashnij suffered hamstring and knee injuries respectively during the weekend's match and will be assessed throughout the week.

Sam Simpson made a successful football return via the VFL.

Quninton Narkle and Esava Ratugolea should both be untroubled by minor injury concerns.

Cooper Stephens is ticking boxes in his running program as he returns from knee and ankle injuries, while Nathan Kreuger is working back from a minor knee complaint. 

Patrick Dangerfield and Francis Evans are both working their way back from syndesmosis ankle injuries.

Shaun Higgins (Hamstring/Thumb)

"Higgins trained this morning in our craft session and moved really freely," GM of football Simon Lloyd says.

"He had the thumb issue and the hamstring and the thumb was more of an issue than the hamstring.

"He’s back moving freely and will be up for consideration in the coming weeks."

Esava Ratugolea (Groin)

"The day of the game he had some groin soreness, in the warmup prior to the VFL game against the AFL academy," Lloyd says.

"We decided conservatively to pull him out of the game.

"We are expecting that he will come back into the normal football program with ongoing management."

Mark O’Connor (Hamstring)

"O’Connor has a hamstring injury. He’ll now commence his rehab program and tick off what he needs to over the coming weeks," Lloyd says. 

Jake Kolodjashnij (Knee)

Kolodjashnij has a low-grade MCL, he suffered the knee injury during the game.

"He was able to continue to perform, then he was medically subbed at a point in time when we communicated with the doctors and decided it was best for him not to go on.

"We’ll see how he goes throughout the week but he’s unlikely to play this week."

Francis Evans and Patrick Dangerfield (Ankles)

"Both have had syndesmosis ankle injuries and are continuing to work through their rehabilitation," Lloyd says.

Quinton Narkle (Ankle)

"Narkle had an ankle sprain in the VFL," Lloyd says.

"He was playing some wonderful footy. A lot of clearances and some great run and he used the ball really well on the weekend.

"He’ll be available to play this weekend."

Nathan Kreuger (Knee)

"Kreuger has had a minor knee issue and will hope to build into a return to play in the short term," Lloyd says.

Cooper Stephens (Knee)

"Cooper is progressing positively through his rehab with his running program,"  Lloyd says.